• For plant improvement and supply of improved planting material, germplasm stocks of 315 Arabica and 14 Robusta accessions revitalized and planted in the gene bank plot • Nine coffee germplasm materials registered with NBPGR and five more slated for
registration
• A new coffee genotype Sarchimor (Nandi) being evaluated for commercial use
• Seed plots of Arabica selections in Board’s farms being further purified by vegetative means to attain uniformity in seed and clone production
• Six new genotypes of Arabica identified on the basis of yield, resistance to leaf rust, seed grades and cup quality for multi location evaluation
• Arabica mapping populations created to isolate DNA markers linked to rust resistance genes
• 32 MT of Arabica and 1.8 MT of Robusta coffee seeds supplied to the growers
• 95,000 seedlings and 58,000 clones of elite plant material supplied; 19 million seedlings made available through mini SHG groups
• Transformed tissues and somatic embryos and a few plantlets with marker genes
obtained in both Arabica and Robusta genotypes
• Protocols developed for isolating good quality RNA and preparing DNA and cloning these fragments to understand the molecular basis of leaf rust resistance
• Around 9000 plantlets regenerated by somatic embryogenesis and 5,000 plants planted after hardening in the trial plots
• Significant advantages not seen in tissue culture multiplication compared to multiplication through seeds
ii. Crop management
• Light pruning every year found to be better in enhancing the yield
• Phosphate solubilizing agents could bring about reduction in the dose of phosphorous fertilizers
• Coffee based intercropping systems could enhance returns to the farmers during distress
• Micro-sprinkler irrigation found to be a better option to increase production in Robusta than overhead irrigation to conserve water.
• 29,835 soil samples and 1,116 leaf samples tested to make fertilizer recommendations to ensure rational use of this costly input
• 2,118 samples of agrochemicals comprising of organic manures, liming materials, fertilizers and copper sulphate tested to assess the quality of some of the inputs
• DRIS (Diagnosis Recommendations Integrated System) norms developed for both Arabica and Robusta coffee to aid in precise application of plant nutrients.
• A few drought tolerant varieties were identified that could be used in future breeding programmes
iii. Plant protection
• 59 lakh exotic parasitoids (Sephalonomia stephanoderis) reared 59 lakh reared and 39 lakh released in the field to control coffee berry borer.
• 2.7 lakh brocatraps indigenously designed traps developed and supplied for mass trapping the berry borer beetles.
• 20,000 pheromone traps supplied to growers for monitoring and managing white stem borer.
• 6.5 lakh exotic parasitoids (Leptomastix dactylopii) reared and supplied to the growers to control mealy bug infestation.
• Some leads obtained in Bio-control of white stem borer using indigenous parasitoids, use of entomopathogenic nematodes against coffee pests and development of an effective formulation of Beauveria bassiana against coffee berry borer and shot hole borer
• Information collected on bio-ecology of white stem borer particularly its field activity studied for developing better management practices
• For effective disease management, good sources of leaf rust resistance like sarchimor, cavimor and catimor identified
• Leaf rust race banks established at Central Coffee Research Institute (CCRI) and Regional Stations at Chettalli and Thandigudi with abundant number of rust races for screening of new coffee varieties
• A fungicide namely Contaf (propiconazole) identified as a substitute for Bayleton resulting in better control of the rust pathogen
• Preliminary studies conducted towards developing bio-control tools against major and minor diseases
• Trichoderma sp., an antagonistic fungus, found useful to manage root disease problems was popularized
iv. Standardization of post harvest technology, mycotoxin and pesticide residues in Coffee
• Pulped beans treated with graded doses of powdered lime, enhanced the quality in addition to assistance in storing and drying of semi-washed parchment
• Drying trials suggested that cement, tarpaulin and polyethylene surfaces were good for drying
• Coffee wet processing machines in use evaluated for their efficiency and some of the imported pulping machines like Penagos and Pinhalense found to be good
• Mechanical drying of coffee found to be a cost additive venture
• A few effluent treatment units developed by NEERI, Nagpur and ASTRA, Bangalore evaluated; treated wastewater did not conform to standards being prescribed by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board
• The Board sponsored multi-centric projects involving Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore and Mangalore University, Madikeri to develop suitable eco-friendly management practices for coffee pulp and waste water
• A multi-country ICO-CFC-FAO project on ‘Enhancement of coffee quality through prevention of mould formation” launched.
• The occurrence of Ochratoxin-A (OTA) producing moulds found primarily dependent on estate practices, especially at harvest and post harvest stages
• Beans obtained from tree dried fruits, insect damaged fruits and gleanings (fallen cherries) found to be more susceptible to contamination with Ochratoxin-A producing moulds
• The critical stages of mould contamination in coffee throughout the production chain identified and prevention strategies standardized for estate level implementation
• An Analytical Laboratory established and method of analysis of OTA in green and roasted coffee beans standardized.
• A survey of more than 90% of trade coffee samples showed OTA levels within the MRL prescribed by many coffee importing countries
• Training courses on Principles of Food Hygiene and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP)” and awareness campaigns on GAP and GMP for mould prevention in Coffee conducted in all major coffee zones
v. Setting up of quality evaluation-testing centres, training, certification systems and on and off-farm quality up gradation
• Quality evaluation centres functioned at the Bangalore office and Coffee Centre, Chikmagalur
• 5,256 coffee samples tested as on 31.03.2006 for quality against a target of 6,750 for the Plan period
• Thirteen one-day training programmes conducted for 232 roasters and brewers meeting the target set for the Plan period
• 1,262 coffee samples evaluated as a part of the Flavour of India - Fine Cup Award cupping competition
• Thirty-nine ‘Kaapi Shastra” training programmes conducted benefiting 506 participants • Twenty-nine students completed postgraduate diploma course on Coffee Quality
Management
• Eleven cupping sessions organized during the four-year period • Fifty-three curing works inspected for issue and or renewal of license • Five quality awareness programmes conducted in different regions
• Four private coffee quality laboratories inspected and accreditation accorded