Arabica coffee is a perennial cash crop and highly affected by biennial bearing which disturbs farmers’ annual income and world’s coffee industries. Developing nonbiennial bearing variety is prominent in addition to applying field management practices. This study was conducted from 2012 to 2020 in southwestern Ethiopia at Tepi and Gera to test the extent of genetic variability among Arabic coffee germplasm in biennial bearing and understand the influences of bienniality on advanced selection. The pooled analysis of variance revealed handiness of genetic variability in yield and biennial bearing. The moderate genotypic coefficient of variation (10–20%), heritability (30–50%), and high genetic advance as percentage of the mean (>20%) were manifested in yield and biennial bearing. Response to selection and selection efficiency were negatively affected by biennial bearing. Early selection excluded 30–40% of the top high yielders from advanced selection. Selection at four harvesting seasons revealed 90% and more selection efficiency. Thus, one has to be conscious of the alternate bearing nature of lines during advanced selection. Both T43/11 and T51/11 were among the top high yielders and showed low biennial bearing at Gera and Tepi. T33/11, T49/11, T55/11, and T61/11 showed very low biennial bearing at both locations. These are promising lines and could be recommended for further biennial bearing improvement breeding programs.

Coffee, which is the most popular soft drink in the world, belongs to the genus Coffea in the Rubiaceae family. About 124 species are known in this genus, whereas Coffea arabica L. and Coffea canephora are the two most widely cultivated species worldwide. Coffea arabica is the only tetraploid species in the genus coffea and is self-fertile, while other species are diploid and generally self-incompatible. Ethiopia is the center of origin and diversity for arabica coffee, which is the only species cultivated in the country. The availability of wide genetic variability among the indigenous coffee and the diverse agro-ecologies in the country provided immense possibilities to improve the crop for desirable agronomic and breeding interest traits. Cognizant of this and the occurrence of coffee berry disease (CBD) in Ethiopia for the first time, a coffee breeding program was initiated in the 1970’s aiming at exploiting the available genetic diversity and developing productive varieties combining disease resistance, best quality, and other desirable characteristics. Coffee genetic resource collection, characterization, evaluation, conservation and genetic studies are among the major breeding activities undertaken so far by designing and implementing different breeding strategies following the conventional breeding approach. So far, outstanding achievements have been recorded in collecting 7130 germplasm accessions, generating basic information on the genetics aspects, and developing 44 improved varieties of which seven are F1 hybrids and identifying 149 elite promising genotypes for further evaluation to develop and release a new varieties. Extensive collection of coffee genetic resources from unaddressed areas, and application of molecular breeding techniques such as marker-assisted selection and breeding for stress tolerance, among others, would be the main focus areas of future coffee breeding programs.

Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica) is one of the most important commodities that is cultivated in various agro-ecologies of Ethiopia. The perennial and evergreen nature of the coffee favors attack by several insects, diseases, mites, and some gastropods such as snails and slugs. All parts of the plants are susceptible to be attacked, and damage could appear at different crop growth stages. Coffee insects damage seedling, reduce coffee yield and quality. Many insects found in coffee agroforestry system are not pests; many are even beneficial as they feed upon the coffee pest species. Worldwide over 3000 insects and mites are associated with coffee. In Ethiopia, more than 59 arthropod pests have been identified and documented in coffee from 1966 till the present. From identified arabica coffee arthropods in the country around 30.51% are Hemiptera order whereas 28.81% are Lepidoptera order. Glasshouse orthezia (Insignorthezia insignis), mealybugs (Planococcus spp. and Pseudococcus spp.) and greenhouse whiteflies (Trialeurodes spp.) are the pest currently recorded in Ethiopia. Besides, due to changing farm dynamics from time to time and current climate change, some previously uncommon pests are appearing and discussed in this review. Coffee insect pests are more problematic in coffee plantation system. Pesticide-free pest management options under changing climatic conditions are crucial. As future prospective, it is very important to conserve natural enemies through the diversification in the coffee farms. In future, identifying the impacts of climate change on coffee associated insect species, and mass rearing and release of natural control agents could allow for the sustainable production in Ethiopia. Therefore, this review presents the past, current status of coffee arthropod pests and their management options in Ethiopia.

Coffee (Coffea arabica L.) is the major cash crop of Ethiopia. The country is ecologically very diverse which allows the coffee plant to grow under wide range of environments between altitudes of 550 to 2600 m. a.s.l. Ethiopia, being the place of origin for Arabica coffee, is endowed with genetic pool wealth of the crop and with enabling environmental conditions to sustainably produce and supply fine specialty coffee that can address emerging international market demand. The prevailing wide range of ecological condition in the country has have allowed the production of coffees of different types that are with uniquely distinctive quality profile, resistance to major diseases, plant growth and yield potential among many other desirable traits. Of the coffees produced in Ethiopia, the most popular internationally branded types (named depending on area of production) are; Sidama, Yirga-cheffe, Limmu, Gimbi and Harerghe coffees. These specific coffee localities, despite their valuable potential and the recognition they deserved on the world market, were lacking their own improved local varieties where they had been using coffee varieties released for other areas (south-western region) until the 2010. However, most of southwest varieties showed multitude of constraints such as poor adaptation and inherent quality adulteration under the locations. Cognizant of this problem, local land race variety development program was designed and implemented to promote sustainable production of the distinct coffee types by origin maintaining inherent qualities of the specific localities for enhanced export market expansion. Through this breeding approach so far, outstanding achievements were recorded in germplasm collection, evaluation for desirable agronomical traits, and generation of basic information on the genetics aspects, and development and release of 12 speciality varieties suiting for the specific coffee landraces in Ethiopia, i.e., 4 Harerghe, 4 Wollega/Gimbi, 3 Sidama/Yirgachefe and 1 Limu coffees. As the main focus areas of future Arabica coffee landrace improvement program, it would be vital to give due attention to further identification of new and distinctive landraces, extensive collection of coffee genetic resource from unaddressed localities, application of molecular breeding techniques such as marker assisted selection and breeding for major /emerging/ diseases and stress tolerance, among others.

South-Omo is one the potential coffee producing areas of south western Ethiopia. However, the coffee producers are still challenging with lack of improved varieties. To overcome this problem and deliver coffee technologies in a short period of time, testing the adaptability of released coffee verities breeding program was designed. The objectives were to test the adaptability of released coffee varieties under Jinka coffee growing area and to identify the suitable varieties and recommend for users. Seven selected coffee varieties and one local check were tested around Jinka area. The experiment was established in 2018. The varieties were tested in replicated trial with completely randomized block design (RCBD) for two constitutive seasons at Shirshir kebele site, South Ari in South Omo. Data were collected for clean bean yield and growth parameters such as number of primary branches and number of fruits per primary branch. The collected data were subjected to statistical analysis using SAS software. The significant difference was observed among varieties for yield and yield related traits. Among the tested varieties, Menesibu and Desu showed best adaptability to the area. Generally, Menesibu and Desu were identified as the best adaptable varieties and recommended for further multiplication and distribution for framers and other users.