Evaluation of Fruit Removal Force of Coffee Cultivars

Abstract

The force (FRF) required to detach ripe and full-size green berries from 2-year-old trees of coffee cultivars Yellow Caturra, Guatemalan, Catuai, Mondo Novo and Progeny 502 was determined at 0600, 0900, 1300 and 1600 h on 4 dates in Nov. 1989. The trees were grown on a Kunia silt loam at an altitude of 100 m at Kunia, Hawaii. There were considerable differences in FRF between fruits of different maturities when sampled at 0600 and 1600 for all cultivars. FRF was greater for green than for ripe berries. For ripe fruits FRF was greatest (10.3 N) in Progeny 502 but for green berries it was greatest (13.0 N) in Yellow Caturra.