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Chemistry, Biology and Health Aspects of Plants of the Coffea...
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Chemistry, Biology and Health Aspects of Plants of the Coffea Genus

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Phytochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 4478

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Cristina Forzato

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy
Interests: food chemistry; natural products; plant extracts; antioxidants; polyphenols; liquid chromatography; nuclear magnetic resonance; mass spectrometry; organic synthesis; sensors
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Coffea genus plant comprises more than 100 species, among which Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora are the best characterized since they are used for coffee production. Although my major interests are in the commercial species, the other, non-commercialized also species present agronomic characteristics and could have sensory quality and benefits for human health. This Special Issue aims to collect works discussing all aspects of all species belonging to the genus Coffea, ranging from the chemical identification of still-unknown compounds to the chemical characterization of different species, as well as agronomic practices, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, impacts on human health, and extraction and analytical techniques.  This is a non-exhaustive list of the topics to be discussed in this Special Issue, and other aspects concerning the Coffea genus may be taken into consideration to ensure a complete representation of this genus.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Cristina Forzato
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • plant chemistry
  • natural products
  • antioxidants
  • secondary metabolites
  • chromatography
  • spectroscopy
  • mass spectrometry
  • extraction
  • biological activity
  • agronomic practices
  • human health

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

23 pages, 3470 KiB  
Article
Major Bioactive Compounds in Seeds, Husks, and Leaves of Selected Genotypes of Coffea canephora cv. Conilon from Three Consecutive Crops
by Juliana DePaula, Fábio Luiz Partelli, Alessandro M. Batista, Veronica Calado and Adriana Farah
Plants 2025, 14(7), 1040; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14071040 - 27 Mar 2025
Viewed by 438
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate: (1) the bioactive profile of seeds, husks, and leaves of selected conilon coffee genotypes (n = 42) from three consecutive crops for the selection of plants to meet health interests, (2) the variability in the content of [...] Read more.
This study aimed to investigate: (1) the bioactive profile of seeds, husks, and leaves of selected conilon coffee genotypes (n = 42) from three consecutive crops for the selection of plants to meet health interests, (2) the variability in the content of these bioactive compounds over the crops, and (3) possible correlations among the contents of the evaluated compounds in the different parts of the plant. Selected conilon plants were reproduced by clonal propagation. Bioactive compounds were analyzed using HPLC-DAD. Eight chlorogenic acids (CGA), caffeine, trigonelline, and minor phenolic compounds were quantified (dry basis) in all extracts. CGA contents in seeds, husks, and leaves ranged between 3.71 and 9.71 g/100 g, 0.43 and 1.65 g/100 g, and 0.80 and 2.22 g/100 g, respectively. Caffeine contents ranged between 1.21 and 2.63 g/100 g, 0.13 and 0.84 g/100 g, and 0.33 and 2.01 g/100 g in seeds, husks, and leaves, respectively. Trigonelline contents ranged between 0.83 and 1.12 g/100 g, 0.59 and 1.24 g/100 g, and 0.74 and 1.84 g/100 g, respectively. Variation among the three crops was observed to be higher for CGA. A discrete correlation between CGA and caffeine was observed in the seeds (r: 0.72, p = 0.003). Some of the genotypes showed consistently higher contents of these bioactive compounds than others (not only in the seeds but also in the husks and leaves), being good candidates for cultivar registration to meet various market demands in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Studies that evaluate the potential use of new genotypes and byproducts are important for diversification and maximum use of coffee plants, promoting sustainability and financial return to the farmers and the producing country. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chemistry, Biology and Health Aspects of Plants of the Coffea Genus)
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16 pages, 3210 KiB  
Article
Identification of SNP Markers and Candidate Genes Associated with Major Agronomic Traits in Coffea arabica
by Ruane Alice da Silva, Eveline Teixeira Caixeta, Letícia de Faria Silva, Tiago Vieira Sousa, Pedro Ricardo Rossi Marques Barreiros, Antonio Carlos Baião de Oliveira, Antonio Alves Pereira, Cynthia Aparecida Valiati Barreto and Moysés Nascimento
Plants 2024, 13(13), 1876; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13131876 - 7 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1766
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) allow for inferences about the relationships between genomic variants and phenotypic traits in natural or breeding populations. However, few have used this methodology in Coffea arabica. We aimed to identify chromosomal regions with significant associations between SNP markers [...] Read more.
Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) allow for inferences about the relationships between genomic variants and phenotypic traits in natural or breeding populations. However, few have used this methodology in Coffea arabica. We aimed to identify chromosomal regions with significant associations between SNP markers and agronomic traits in C. arabica. We used a coffee panel consisting of 195 plants derived from 13 families in F2 generations and backcrosses of crosses between leaf rust-susceptible and -resistant genotypes. The plants were phenotyped for 18 agronomic markers and genotyped for 21,211 SNP markers. A GWAS enabled the identification of 110 SNPs with significant associations (p < 0.05) for several agronomic traits in C. arabica: plant height, plagiotropic branch length, number of vegetative nodes, canopy diameter, fruit size, cercosporiosis incidence, and rust incidence. The effects of each SNP marker associated with the traits were analyzed, such that they can be used for molecular marker-assisted selection. For the first time, a GWAS was used for these important agronomic traits in C. arabica, enabling applications in accelerated coffee breeding through marker-assisted selection and ensuring greater efficiency and time reduction. Furthermore, our findings provide preliminary knowledge to further confirm the genomic loci and potential candidate genes contributing to various structural and disease-related traits of C. arabica. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chemistry, Biology and Health Aspects of Plants of the Coffea Genus)
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11 pages, 2410 KiB  
Communication
Variation in Soluble Sugars in Arabica Coffee Cherry Fruits
by João Leonardo Corte Baptistella, Giovane Assoni, Marcio Souza da Silva and Paulo Mazzafera
Plants 2024, 13(13), 1853; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13131853 - 5 Jul 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1804
Abstract
The maturation of Arabica coffee fruits is influenced by both endogenous and external factors. The stage of fruit maturation affects the chemical composition of the beans, which in turn impacts the quality of the coffee beverage. During maturation, the fruit peel changes colour [...] Read more.
The maturation of Arabica coffee fruits is influenced by both endogenous and external factors. The stage of fruit maturation affects the chemical composition of the beans, which in turn impacts the quality of the coffee beverage. During maturation, the fruit peel changes colour from green to red (cherry), signalling the optimal harvest time and suggesting high fruit quality. However, the degree of redness can vary, indicating different levels of maturity. This study aimed to explore the variation in soluble sugar accumulation in relation to the redness of coffee fruit tissues. We classified ripe fruits into six ripeness categories based on the intensity of the red colour of the epicarp, measured using a colourimeter. We analysed total soluble sugar, sucrose, and starch in three parts: coat (exocarp + mesocarp), coat juice (obtained by squeezing the coat), and beans. Our findings reveal that the variation in sugar in the endosperm does not correspond to changes in the coat, suggesting separate regulation of sugar accumulation, particularly sucrose, which is crucial for coffee quality. Our data indicate that there is no transfer of sucrose and reducing sugars from the red coat to the bean. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chemistry, Biology and Health Aspects of Plants of the Coffea Genus)
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