Early determination of yield potential in arabica coffee by applying index selection

Summary Estimates of phenotypic and genotypic variances and covariances for a number of quantitative characters in arabica coffee, obtained from a variety trial in Kenya, were used to construct selection indices. The results indicated that the expected genetic advance in yield based on a selection index, containing the first two years yield and measurements of girth at base of stem and percentage bearing primaries, will be almost as large (relative efficiency 97%) as that obtained by straight selection based on 10-years yield totals. This would imply that a breeding cycle of 5 years will be sufficient for efficient selection for higher productivity in arabica coffee.