- 23 -

Collecting Wild Coffea Species

in Kenya and Tanzania
F. Anthony�/ J. Berthaud �I, J.-L. Guillaumet 21 and M. Lourd 21

Introduction 12-17 January, 1977 (Berthaud et al. ,

1980) and the second in Tanzania from 5
For several years, Institut Fran�ais de March-11 April, 1982 (Berthaud et al.,
Recherche pour le Developpement en 1983). The team consisted of a botanist,
Cooperation (ORSTOM) and IRCC (Institut de two geneticists and a plant pathologist.
Recherche sur le Cafe et le Cacao) have
had a cooperative programme for genetic Methods
improvement of coffee. The following
collecting trips have been made in Africa, The herbaria of the Museum National
for germplasm of the genus Coffea: d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France, the
Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, UK and the
1. Ethiopia (1966) for £. arabica Jardin Botanique Royal, Meise, Belgium
(Guillaumet and Halle, 1978); were visited prior to the collecting trips
2. Central Africa (1975) for f.. canephora, in order to develop species/location
£. congensis' £. liberica and "cafeier lists. The species which were expected in
de la Nana" (Berthaud and Guillaumet, Kenya were £. eugenioides, f.. zanguebariae
1978); and some undetermined species; while in
3. C8te d'Ivoire (1975-1981) for £. Tanzania they were f.. eugenioides, £.
canephora, £. humilis, f.. liberica and mufindiensis, f.. racemosa, f.. schumanianna
£. stenophylla (Berthaud, 1984); and f.. zanguebariae.
4. Cameroon (1983) for f.. brevipes, f..
canephora, £. liberica and £. staudtii Additional information was obtained
(Anthony et al., 1985); and from the National Herbarium of Kenya at
5. Congo (1986) for f.. brevipes, £. Nairobi, especially on £. arabica in the
canephora, £. congensis and f.. liberica. Marsabit area mentioned by Dale and
Greenway (1961), and on an undetermined
East Africa is a particularly species described as £. fadenii by Bridson
interesting area for Coffea collection (1982). other data were provided by
because it contains species of section specialists of the Coffee Research Station
Mozambicoffea (Chevalier, 1947) which at Ruiru (Kenya) and the Sylviculture
seems to be an evolutionary link between Research Station at Lushoto (Tanzania).
the high caffeine Eucoffea group and the Itineraries were established based on
caffeine-free Mascarocoffea group. Our known sites of wild coffee trees,
knowledge of this group is limited and transportation facilities and local
many of them are not represented in field difficulties. The general methodology for
genebanks. The species f.. eugenioides collecting was described by Berthaud et
(Charrier, 1978) and its relationship with al. (1980; 1984).
£. arabica, is of particular interest.
Results
Two collecting missions to East Africa
were undertaken, the first in Kenya from Collections were made as cuttings,

l/ lnstltut de Rechercha sur la Cafa et le Cacao (Station IRCC), 8P 806, Olvo, Cota d' lvolra
2/ lnstltut Fran�als de Recherche pour le Oevaloppement en Cooperation (ORSTOM), 213 rue La Fayette, F-75010
Paris, Franca
�/ lnstltuto Naclonal de Pesqulsas de Amazonla (INPA Ecologla), CP 476, 69000 Meneus, Al't, 6razl I

FAO/IBPGR Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter, 69:23-29

 - 24 -

Table I. Coffee germplasm collecTed In Kenya In 1977

Species and populaTion Size of S""'l)I• Type of maTerlal l/

£. arable•

MarsablT 84 C, YP, S

£. eugenloldes

Kimi1111 8 C, YP, s
Mai awe 174 c, YP, s
NorTh Nandl 117 c, YP, s, SL
KapTarol YP, s
Teressla 539 C, YP, s
Kamb I ri 88 c, YP, s
ChepTuyeT 354 c, YP, s, SL

£. fadenli

Mbololo 40 C, YP, S, SL

£. zanguebarlae

Longo Magadi 41 C, YP, S

Shimba HI I ls
Diani 19 C, yp
Shimon I 38 C, YP
Rabal 9 C

l/ C= cu-ti"lngs; S= seeds; SL= seedlings; YP= young planTs

young plants, shoots, seedlings and seeds, east of Lake Victoria between 1600 and
and herbarium samples were prepared of 2200 m of altitude, in lowland forest of
every population. The accessions the Lake Victoria belt (Lind and Morrison,
collected are listed in Tables 1 and 2, 1974). In some places Q. eugenioides was
while their locations are given in the most common understory species. The
Berthaud et al. (1980; 1983). large numbers of plants and their quite
uniform spatial distribution made
1. Q. arabica L. (Kenya) observation of population structure
difficult. some variation in size and
This species was only found in the shape of leaves occurred between
Marsabit Forest, at an altitude of individuals of the same population.
1500-1550 m where it was already known and Additionally, there was variability in
considered as "probably genuine wild" by fruit maturity both within and between
its collector (cited in Dale and Greenway, populations. This species was not found
1961). It forms numerous small around Mount Kenya, where it had been
populations often of very vigorous young reported previously, because of
plants with some older trees. The large-scale forest destruction.
Marsabit forest may be the southernmost
limit of its natural distribution. 3. Q. fadenii Bridson (Kenya)

2. Q. eugenioides s. Moore (Kenya) This species was undescribed at the

time of our visit. Faden and Faden first
This species was found only in the area reported it on top of the Taita Hills near
 - 25 -

Table 2. Coffee germplasm collec:Ted In Tanzania In 1982

Species and Size ot Type of

populaTlon sample maTerial l/

£. zanquebarl-

UTeTe 2.5 C
UTeTe 2 6 C
UTeTe .5 2 C
UTeTe 4 b yp
Mkongo 20 C
KITulangalo 22 C
KITulangalo 27 C
Uzlgua .50 C
Uzlgua 2 28 C
Uzlgua 2 .507 SL

£. muf I ndlans is

Mamlwa 20 C
Marnlwa 11 yp
Mamlwa .52 s
Mamiwa 2 44 C
Mamlwa 2 79 s
Muflndl 104 yp
Muflndl 2 .57 C
Muflndl 2 19 SL

l/ C= cuTTings; S= seeds; SL= seed I I ngs; YP= young planTs

1500 m in 1971. We found one tree of Bridson (Bridson, 1982). These scarce
about 20 m high and with a circumference trees were widely dispersed in the coastal
of 1. 1 m bearing many fruits and dry forest on a coral reef substrate.
surrounded by numerous seedlings, and by Most had developed several shoots as an
abundant plants at all developmental adaptation to the substrate.
stages. The tree was very vigorous and
was similar to species of Mascarocoffea in (b) Rabai (Kenya)
fruit and leaf shape, and in leaf and stem This population (form Q.
colour. pseudozanguebariae) was found in a small
patch of woody vegetation near a stream.
4. Q. zanguebariae species complex (Kenya
and Tanzania) (c) Shimba hills (Kenya)

Four populations of this species Located in coastal hills, at an

complex were found in Kenya and three in altitude of 150-350 m, these populations
Tanzania. Identification was difficult belonged to a completely different vege­
because the plants often lacked flowers or tation type rainforest with a more
fruits, and because of the great variation complex stratification and a greater spe­
in coffee tree morphology in this part of cies diversity. In these populations, two
Africa. forms were found: g_. pseudozanguebariae
and g_. sp. "A".
(a) Diani and Shimoni (Kenya)
(d) Utete (Tanzania)
Coffee trees from these two populations
were identified as g_. pseudozanguebariae Several small populations were
 26 -

collected in forest patches situated in a different forest types on the Mufindi

woody savannah at an altitude of 50-150 m Escarpment, at an altitude of 1750 m.
These populations consisted only of adult The first one (T05) grew in a bamboo
trees and lacked flowers and fruits. The forest. This well delimited population
absence of seedlings and young plants included numerous plants of different
showed a poor reproductive capacity. ages, bearing many fruits. The second one
Plants were very different from those of (T06), in a rainforest, was also well
other sites in leaf shape and size. delimited with many fruiting adult and
some young trees, and many seedlings.
(e) Morogoro (Tanzania) These two populations showed strong
reproductive potential. There was
This population, situated on a hill considerable morphological variability
slope, at an altitude of 500 m, was both between and within the populations.
composed of young plants and adult trees
bearing flowers and some mature fruits. The habitat of the two £. mufindiensis
The absence of seedlings could have populations is high altitude rainforest.
resulted from irregular flowering. Because of their morphological
characteristics and their ecological
(f) Uzigua (Tanzania) status, they appeared very similar to £.
mufindiensis as defined by Chevalier
As at Utete, populations were situated (1947) although they shared some
in forest patches in a woody savannah. similarities with other species like £.
Though plants had no flowers or fruits, eugenioides, £. racemosa and £.
seedlings well aggregated under some adult zanguebariae. The collections will be
trees were found. The heterogeneity of studied further to clarify their taxonomic
seedling distribution may indicate high status.
variability in parent tree reproductive
ability. Several trees also produced Phytosanitary observations
suckers.
All the populations observed in
rt is suggested that the morphological Tanzania were free of major diseases.
characteristics and location in low Some secondary infection or damage, common
altitude forest of the coffee trees of the in forest conditions, such as Corticium
three Tanzanian sites indicates that they koleroga (eke) Hohn on branches or leaves,
belong to the £. zanguebariae species and leaf miners, was present, apparently
complex. study of the full reproductive without serious effects.
cycle in collected material and exam­
ination of morphological and biochemical Two of the major diseases of coffee,
characteristics using electrophoresis will leaf rust (Hemileia vastatrix B. and Br.)
enable the taxonomic position of collected and coffee berry disease (Colletotrichum
samples and biological relationships coffeanum Noack) were observed in Kenya.
within and between populations to be The leaf rust occurred in two populations
determined. of £. eugenioides, at Kambiri and
Cheptuyet. At Cheptuyet, many plants have
5. £. mufindiensis species complex a high infection rate with typical leaf
(Tanzania) rust spots. The berry disease occurred
rarely on some plants from Kimilili and
(a) Mamiwa Halawa. Hites and leaf miners were common
in many populations but might be
Two populations were found in summit considered as secondary; they often occur
forests in the Rubeo Mountains at an on numerous plants of rainforests.
altitude of 1600-1700 m, an area from
which coffee had previously been All plant samples collected were
collected. Both juvenile and adult plants processed to eliminate infected organs,
were numerous, and many bore unripe and then treated with pesticides to
fruits. Morphological variability was low protect the material during transfer to
among individuals. quarantine facilities.

(b) Mufindi Work at the field genebanks

Two populations were found in very Part of the collection was sent to the
 - 27 -

coffee research stations of Kenya (Ruiru) material was first sent to Hontpellier,
and Tanzania (Lyamungu). The other part F.rance for six months quarantine, and then
was sent to ORSTOH and IRCC in c8te to a special quarantine glasshouse at
d'Ivoire. Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire for three months.

To prevent dissemination of pests and During quarantine, the material was

diseases from East to West Africa, the prop·agated by grafting on £. canephora,

30· 40•

,--,,,.. ,__
r"
'" ,, ,,,,_
......
,.,

,,
\
/ 1

'
\
\ I
\ Mt. Marsabit
t
\
I I
\ I

,
Mt. E)gon I
l
KE NY A
.........
/� I
\
/ I
Mt. Kenya
''
I
o·
----
A
'
\
\ - .... , •
Nairobi \
''
............
', ',
I
I
I
'-,,, Mt.'..
I Kilimandjaro J 0
l
I I..
/
'
',
5• TANZANl'A s·
Dodoma
• • *
*
•
lringa

' ....
**
'
.... '
--
1cr. 10·

..
1:).. £. arabica

£. eugenioides

*
•
f. zanguebariae

£. mufindiensis
0 500Km
0 £. � I l
30° 40•

Fig. I. ORSTOM mission coff'ee col lectlng sites In East Africa

 28 -

directly from cuttings and from seedlings, and the genetic structure of the
either collected or grown from seed genepool. The relationship between £.
(Berthaud et al., 1980). Possible arabica and £. eugenioides has been
problems with root disease were reduced or investigated by electrophoresis and
eliminated by growing grafted plants. organelle DNA analysis (Berthaud et al.,
After the quarantine periods, plants were 1977; 1983).
transferred to the germplasm collections
at two experimental stations in c6te Plants of £. eugenioides and of the £.
d • Ivoire: at Mount Tonkoui at 1100 m for zanguebariae species complex have been
species from mountain areas; and Dive at shown to have a lower caffeine content
250 m altitude for other species, where than those of£. arabica.
genetic studies are now in progress.
caffeine-free representatives of £.
Some ofthe data resulting from the pseudozanguebariae have even been found, a
evaluation of these collections has now characteristic once thought typical of
been published. Hamon � al. (1984) Mascarocoffea, the group of native coffee
described the relationship between plants of Madagascar.
different forms of £. zanguebariae.
Berthaud (1984) proposed new relationships Further genetic studies are currently
within and among sections of the genus in progress, including interspecific
Coffea based on this material. hybridizations to analyze and improve
transmission of valuable traits into
Conclusions species of agronomic interest such as £.
arabica and£. canephora.
The main objective of themissions to
Kenya and Tanzania was to broaden the Uncontrolled forest exploitation in
genetic basis of material available for East Africa is having serious effects on
coffee breeding. There are now over 1500 the genetic resources of Coffea species.
genotypes of five or more species of the Many forests previously reported to have
Hozambicoffea section of the genus Coffea wild coffees have nearly disappeared. It
in c6te d'Ivoire. The collections are a is urgent now to conserve selected forest
useful basis for studying Coffea taxonomy, areas for plant resources as suggested by
the genetic variability of specific groups Charrier (1980).

References

Anthony, F., Couturon, E. and de Namur, c. 1985. Les cafeiers sauvages du Cameroun.
Resultats d'une mission de prospection effectuee par l'ORSTOM en 1983. 11th ASIC
colloquium, Lome, Togo (to be published).

Berthaud, J. 1984. Les ressources genetiques pour !'amelioration des cafeiers

diploides africains. Evaluation de la richesse genetique des populations sylvestres et
de ses mecanismes organisateurs. Consequences pour l'application. These, Paris XI,
Orsay.

Berthaud, J. and Guillaumet, J. -L. 1978. Les cafeiers sauvages en Centrafrique. Cafe,
cacao, The, 22:171-186.

Berthaud, J., Guillaumet, J.-L., les Pierres, D. and Lourd, H. 1980. Les cafeiers
sauvages du Kenya: prospection et mise en culture. Cafe, cacao, The, 24:101-112.

Berthaud, J., Anthony, F. and Lourd, H. 1983. Les cafeiers sauvages de Tanzanie.
Resultats d'une mission de prospection effectuee du 5 mars au 11 avril 1982. Cafe,
cacao, The, �:245-258.

Berthaud, J., Charrier, A., Guillaumet, J.-L. and Lourd, M. 1984. Les cafeiers. !.!l,
Gestion des ressources genetigues des plantes. Pernes, J. (ed.). pp. 45-104. Agence
de Cooperation Culturelle et Technique (ACCT), Paris.
 - 29 -

Be rthou, F. and T rousl ot, O. 1977. Le polym o r-p hisme e n zymati que des p opulat ions de
cafei ers. pp. 373-383. 8t h ASIC coll oquium, Abi dj an, Cote d'Ivoire.

Berthou, F., T rouslot, P. , HarnQ n, s., Ved e l, F. and Queti er, F. 1980. Analyse en
el ect rophor ese du polymorphisme bio chim i que des cafeie rs: v ariat io n e n zymat:1..que dans
dix- huit p opulati ons sauvages: £. canephora , £. euge nioi des et £. arabica. C afe, Cacao,
T he , 24:313 -326.

Be rthou, F., M ath ieu, c. and Vedel, F. 1983. Chl oropl ast an d mito c hond rial DNA
variation as indicat ors of phyloge netic relationsh ips in t he genus Coffea . T heo. Appl.
Genet., 65:77-84.

Bridson, D. 1982. Studies in C offea and Psila nthus (Rubiace ae sub. f arn. Cinchonoideae)
for part 2 of Flora of T ropical East Africa: Rubiceae. Kew Bull., 36:817-859.

Charrier, A. 1978. L a structure genetique d es cafe iers spontanes de la region m algache

(Mascaro c offea). Leurs relatio ns av e c les c afe ie rs d'o rig ine afri cai ne ( Eucoffea).
Memoires, no. 87. In stitut F ran � ais de Re cher che p ou r le Developpeme nt en C oope rat ion
(ORSTOM), Paris.

Charrie r, A. 1980. La con se rv ation des r

, essourc es g enetiqu es du genre Co ffea. Cafe,
cacao , T he, 24:249-258.

Charrier , A. an d Bert. haud, J. 1985. Botanic al c la ssi ficat ion of coffee. In, Coffee:
Botany, Biochemistry an d Production of Beans an d B eve r age. Clifford, M. and W1llson,
K. C. (eds.) pp. 13-47. C room Helm, L on d on.

Chevalier, A. 1947. systematique des caf eie rs e t faux ca f eie rs - Mala dies e t insectes
nuisib les. In, Le.s iers du globe.
cafe Le ch ev alie r, P. ( ed. ). En cycl. B iol. 28 Fasc.

3., Paris.

D ale, I. R. an d Gree nway, P. S. 1961. Ke nya Trees an d sh ru bs. Buch anan 's Kenya E states
Ltd., Nairobi, and Hatchard's, L on d on.

Guill aumet, J.-L. and Halle, F. 1978. E c hantillonnage du m ateriel C offea ara bica
rec olte en Ethiopi,e. In, Etude de la struc tu re et de la Variabil ite Genetique des
�C�a=-f
�e�ie=
=-
r-=s �f�e=-a
=-·-· �C�o�f =-�a�r
�a�b=
=-
c�a -=
i-= e�n.c--=Et
=- =
h"'
i "- i'"'a.
'"'op
"'-" "' Char rier, A . ( e d .). pp. 13 -18. IFC C Bull. , 14.

H amon , S., Anthony, F. and le Pie rres, D. 1984. L a v ariabilite gene tique des cafeiers
spontanes de la section des Mo zarnbic of·fea A. C hev. I. Pr ecisions su r deux especes
affines Coffea pseud oz anguebari ae B ridson et £. sp. "A". Bridson . Ad an sonia, £' 20-7-223.

Lind, E.M. and Morrison, M. E.S. 1974. E ast Afri

. can Veg et ation. L ongman, L on d on.

Pe rnes, J. (e d.). 1984. Gestion des Ressour ces Ge net igues d es Plant es. (2 V o ls.).
Agence de C oope rat ion Cultu relle et Tech ni que (A CCT), Paris.

Plus de :SO populations d'especes de Cottea -comprenants f. .. arabica, �. eugeni,oides, £.. t1ade�ii i et des
especes non Identities parentes des groupes £. zanguebarlae and£. mutindlensis ant ate collectees au Kenya en
1977 e-t en Tanzania en 1962. Le materiel collecte fOt distrlbue a des col lectl•ons en Champ au Kenya et en
Tanzanle eT en COTe d, lvo1re via des procedures de quanrantaine.

Mas de 30 poblaclones de Cottea, comprendiendo C. arables., £. eugenloides y especles lndetermlnadas

relaclonadas con grupos de £- zanguabariae y £. mutlndi ensis, fueron recolectadas en Kenia en 1977 y en
Tanzania an 1982. El material recolectado fua dlvidldo entre dlversos bancos de germoplasma en Kenia y
Tanzania y mediante metodos de cuarentena a Costa de Marfl I.
PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES - Newsletter
RESSOURCES GENETIQUES VEGET ALES - Bulletin
RECURSOS GENETICOS VEGETABLES - Noticiario

INTERNAT:ONAL BOARD FOR PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES

CONSEIL INTERNATIONAL DES RESSOURCES PHYTOGENETIQUES
CONSEJO INTERNACIONAL DE RECURSOS FITOGENETICOS

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS

ORGANISATION DES NATIONS UNIES POUR L'ALIMENTATION ET L'AGRICULTURE
ORGANIZACION DE LAS NACIONES UNIDAS PARA LA AGRICULTURA Y LA ALIMENTACION