Coffea species

J. Spiral and co-workers, "Protoplast Culture and Regeneration in Coffea Species," in Ref. 40. 

Coffea canephora var. robusta was not recognized until 1895, when it was seen as the indigenous Coffea species in the African Congo. C. canephora var. robusta thrives at elevations between the tropics, where the rainfall is about 75 in. and the temperature is 60 to 80°F. Optimal rainfall and temperature conditions favored by the two species are very similar the distinction comes in the tolerance of more extreme conditions. C. canephora var. robusta can tolerate more humid conditions without being attacked by Hemileia vastatrix, for example. 

In contrast with the seed caffeine of Coffea species, relatively little attention has been paid to that of tea. This is in part because the fruit of tea, including the seeds, is of minor economic importance compared with that of coffee moreover earlier studies revealed little caffeine in the tea seed (13.141. Recently we (H) found that the pericarp contains the greatest concentrations of alkaloids in the dry fruit of tea, and that appreciable amounts occur in the seeds, especially in the coats. Thus, from physiological and ecological viewpoints, our concerns are the roles of purine alkaloids and seed coats of tea during fruit development (seed formation) and seed germination. Caffeine in Coffea arabica seed is synthesized in the pericarp, transported to the seed, and accumulated there during fruit... 

Methyl derivatives of xanthine (2,3-dioxypurine) namely caffeine (1,3,7-trimethyl-xanthine), theobromine (3,7-dimethylxanthine) and theophylline (1,3-dimethylxanthine) (Section 1, Appendix) are variously found in plants used for stimulatory drinks such as Ilex paraguayensis (mate) (Aquifoliaceae), Coffea species (coffee) (Rubiaceae), Paullinia cupana (guarana) (Sapindaceae), Cola acuminata (cola) and Theabroma cacao (cocoa) (Sterculiaceae) and Camellia sinensis (tea) (Theaceae). These methylxanthines are variously active as inhibitors of... 

In connection with plant breeding programs, cell and tissue cultures of Coffea species have been studied extensively. We do not deal with this work here, however, and the reader is referred to Baumann and Frisch-knecht for a review (740,741). Although caffeine (46) can be easily isolated from coffee beans at low cost, a number of studies have been made on the production of caffeine in cell cultures of Coffea. The biotechnological aspects of the caffeine production by means of cell cultures has been reviewed by Prenosil et al. (109). 

Campa C, Doulbeau S, Dussert S, Hamon S, Noirot M (2005) DivCTsity in bean caffeine content among wild Coffea species evidence of a discontinuous distribution. Food Chtan 91 633-637... 

Ferulyl-D-chinasaure (43) wurde aus Kaffeebohnen (Coffea Species) isoliert (57) und u. a. in Tabakblattem (Nicotiam tabacum) 311), Sonnenblumenblattem (Helianthus annuus) 283, 314) und Tomatenpflanzen (Lycopersicon esculentum) 34) aufgefunden vgl. auch 238). Auch scheinen 4- und 5-0-Ferulyl-D-chinasauren in Kaffeebohnen vorzukommen (55). 

Figure 6.27b. Proposed metabolic route of caffeine in Coffea species (the solid line, Wanner et ai, 1975), courtesy of the author and Pergamon Press, Ltd., copyright 1975 (the arrows shown on the dotted lines. Waller, 1976).

Figure 6.27c. Compounds isolated from several Coffea species. Top 2-methoxy-l,9-dimethyl-7,9-dihydro-l/f-purine-6,8-dione [0, 1,9-trimethyluric acid] bottom 1,3,7,9-tetra-methyl-7,9-dihydro-liY-purine-2,6,8(3H)-trione (1,3,7,9-tetra-methyluric add) (Wanner et aL, 1975). Courtesy of the authors and Pergamon Press, Ltd., copyright 1975.

There are two methylated uric acids which are considered by Wanner et aL (1975) to be the first products of caffeine degradation. They are testing that hypothesis. This is a particularly attractive hypothesis since the two isolated methylated uric acids were not detected before in any Coffea species. These were 2-methoxy-l,9-dimethyl-7,9-dihydro-l//-pur-... 

Cameroon produces a caffeine-free Coffea species, Coffea chanieriana, but in the West solvents such as dichloromethane, ethyl acetate or even supercritical CO2 are used to dissolve the caffeine from the coffee beans to make decaffeinated coffee. Scientists can notv engineer low-caffeine coffee plants, too. 

The coffee plant belongs to the genus Coffea, species C. arabica, evergreen shrub or small tree, which is propagated from seed. 

Pierre ex Froehner (syn. C. robusta Linden ex De Wild.), and other Coffea species, varieties or hybrids (Family Rubiaceae). 

The coffee plant is a relatively small tree or shmb belonging to the family Rubiaceae. It is often controlled to a height of 3 to 5 meters. Coffea arabica (milds) accounts for 69% of world production Coffea canephora (robustas), 30% and Coffea liberica and others, 1%. Each of these species includes several varieties. After the spring rains the plant produces white flowers. About sis months later the flowers are replaced by fmit approximately the size of a small cherry, hence they are called cherry. The fmit on a tree can include underripe, ripe (red, yellow, and purple color), and overripe cherries. It can be selectively picked (ripe only) or strip picked (predominantly ripe plus some underripe and overripe). 

The two main species of commercial interest in the genus Coffea are Coffea arabica and Coffe a canephora var. robusta. They are conveniently referred to as Arabica and Robusta, respectively. Each genus covers a number of varietals there are at least 13 varieties of Arabica coffees, for example. The genus is in the botanical family of Rubiaceae. 

The two major species of coffee grown commercially are Coffea arabica and Coffe a canephora var. robusta. For ease of reference in the following pages they are described as Arabica and Robusta, respectively. They are mentioned separately because they do show differences in their chemical composition. For example, Robusta contains approximately twice as much caffeine as Arabica. 

Coffea arabica L. produces coffee of the best quality and it is by far the most important species. It is composed of several varieties that have developed spontaneously in the past a few new ones are being found at the present time. These varieties include Arabian, Mokka, Maragogipe, and such types, which produce the costly mild flavored coffees. This species is the most delicate, and is almost the only one... 

From Coffea canephora Pierre is obtained a coffee of lower quality, more commonly spoken of as Robusta, Uganda, or Quillou. It is a vigorous tree, second in importance to C. arabica, and has taken its place where diseases and pests prevent the more delicate species from growing. It is a much larger tree, has a wide spread, and when unpruned may reach 18 to 20 feet in height. The trees are planted about 10 by 10 feet and average about 435 to the acre. 

Coffea dewevrei De Wild, is considered by some to produce coffee of even lower quality than Robusta. In some places it has replaced Robusta and can sometimes be grown by native populations where the other two species fail. It is of the least importance to world commerce. The trees are large leaved and often called Liberica and Excelsa. The trees grow to over 30 feet in height if not pruned and are planted about 12 by 12 feet, averaging close to 302 to the acre. 

The coffee thrips (Diarthrothrips coffeae Williams) is almost microscopic in size. The genus to which it belongs is well known for several species that cause... 

Peterson SW et ai, Penicillium coffeae, a new endophytic species isolated from a coffee plant and its phylogenetic relationship to P. fellutanum, P. thiersii and P. brocae based on parsimony analysis of multilocus DNA sequences, Mycologia 97 659-666, 2005. 

Antioxidant activity. Green and roasted coffee beans were evaluated in relation to degree of roasting and species Coffea arabica and Coffea robusta). The properties were evaluated by determining the reducing... 

Coffee beans are the primary source of caffeine. These beans are obtained from a variety of plants but can be broadly grouped into two classes arabica and robusta. Arabica is obtained from the species Coffea arabica and robusta from the species Cojfea canephora. Robusta, as the... 

Ashihara, H. and Grozier, A. (1999) Biosynthesis and catabolism of caffeine in low-caffeine containing species of Coffea.. Agric. Food Chem., 47, 3425-31. 

Caffeine, a purine alkaloid, is one of the most widely known natural products. Caffeine is ingested as a natural component of coffee, tea, and cocoa, and the impact of caffeine on human health has been studied extensively. The biosynthetic pathway of caffeine has been elucidated recently on the genetic level. Caffeine biosynthesis has been studied most widely in the plant species Coffea (coffee) and Camellia (tea) (168, 169). 

Cinchona Ledgeri-ana, C. Calisaya and hybrids of these with other Cinchona species Botanical origin Cinchona succirubra or its hybrids Coffea arabica Coffea liberica... 

Coffeae semen Coffee beans CoiTea arabica L., other species Rubiaceae MD, DAB 10 (caffeine) 0.3%-2.3% caffeine theophylline (traces) Chlorogenic acid Fig. 29,30... 

---