eChapter Name: Coffee (Coffea canephora/Coffea arabica)
9789395763240
eBook Name: A HANDBOOK OF HORTICULTURAL SCIENCES: VOL.03: SPICES, PLANTATION, MEDICINAL, AROMATIC CROPS AND POST HARVEST MANAGEMENT
by K. Vanangamudi, N.Chezhiyan, M.Kokila, M.Prabhu
2.1. Chromosome number
• Basic chromosome number for the genus Coffea is n=11
• Coffea canephora-diploid (2n=2x=22)
• Coffea arabica (2n=4x=44 )
2.2. Origin and distribution
• Original domesticated coffee plant is said to have been from Harar and native population is derived from Ethiopia (Abyssinia Plateau) with distinct nearby populations in Sudan and Kenya.
• From where, it was taken to Arabia in 11th century.
• From Arabia, its seeds were brought to India by Baba Budan in the 17th Century and were raised in the Baba Budan Hills of Karnataka.
• British planters established large coffee estates near Chikmagalur (Karnataka) in 1826, in Manantody (Wynad) and Shevoroys in 1830 and Nilgiris in 1839.
• Almost the entire production is shared by Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, smaller production in Andhra Pradesh, north eastern states and Madhya Pradesh.
• Karnataka is the largest producer accounting for 70% of total coffee production and 60% of the area
• Kozhikode, Waynad, Malappuram, Kollam, Kannur and Palakkad are the chief producing districts in Kerala.