# Mass and Nutrient Content of Beans and Husks of Coffea racemosa and Coffea zanguebariae Grown in Mozambique

## TL;DR

This study analyzed the bean and husk mass and nutrient content of two coffee species from Mozambique to assess their potential for breeding programs.

## Contribution

The study provides new data on the nutritional profiles and bean proportions of Coffea racemosa and C. zanguebariae for breeding applications.

## Key findings

- C. zanguebariae had higher average bean mass (60.4%) compared to C. racemosa (54.4%).
- Both species showed high nitrogen content in beans, with C. zanguebariae having higher average N (25.42 kg/ton) than C. racemosa (19.98 kg/ton).
- Nutrient content in beans and husks did not correspond, indicating distinct nutritional roles for each part.

## Abstract

Coffea racemosa and C. zanguebariae show promising characteristics for cultivation under stress conditions. However, their potential for breeding programs requires further characterization, especially regarding fruit attributes. This study aimed to characterize the bean/husk ratio and the nutrient content in bean and husks from 22 accessions of Coffea racemosa and another 22 of C. zanguebariae cultivated in Mozambique. Ripe fruits were collected, dried, and manually peeled to evaluate the percentage of bean and husk. The nutrient content (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, and B) was quantified separately by standard methodology. The data were summarized in scatter plots, and differences among accessions were analyzed using Euclidean distance and grouped following the Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean. On average, beans accounted for 54.4% (ranging from 34.5% to 66.5%) of the fruit mass in C. racemosa and 60.4% (38.8% to 81.4%) in C. zanguebariae. Macronutrient content in beans followed the order N > K > Mg > P > S > Ca (average N = 19.98 kg ton−1 of beans) in C. racemosa and N > K > Ca > Mg > S > P (average N = 25.42 kg ton−1 of beans) in C. zanguebariae. Micronutrient content in beans followed the order Fe > B > Mn > Cu > Zn in both species, with average Fe content of 325.8 and 473.72 g ton−1 of beans for C. racemosa and C. zanguebariae, respectively. No correspondence occurred between the bean and husk nutrient content. Coffea racemosa and C. zanguebariae exhibit bean proportions and nutritional profiles comparable to those of commercial species, highlighting their high potential for coffee diversification and genetic breeding. These results provide new evidence supporting the inclusion of C. racemosa and C. zanguebariae in breeding programs aimed at climate-resilient and nutritionally distinct coffee varieties.