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Discover the history, stature, and agronomics behind the union of Mundo Novo and Caturra, a pairing that gave rise to the remarkable Catuai coffee plant.
Mundo Novo
Mundo Novo
• Tall plants with high yield potential but vulnerable to diseases
• Grown mainly in South America; uncommon in Central America
• Leaves can be green or bronze at the tip; bean size average
• Performs best at high altitudes
Agronomics
• First production in year 3
• Requires high nutrition
• Average ripening and cherry-to-bean conversion
• Planting density: 3,000–4,000 plants/ha with single-stem pruning
• Best suited for elevations above 1,500m in Peru
Background
• Part of Bourbon–Typica group
• Originated from Bourbon and Typica cross
• Developed by Instituto Agronômico de Campinas (IAC), Brazil
History
• First identified in 1943 in São Paulo, Brazil (Urupês)
• Selection process continued until 1952, then released to farmers
• A new improved selection released in 1977 by IAC
• Important in Brazil, Peru, and other South American countries
• Limited use in Central America
• Introduced to: Costa Rica (1952, rejected for tall size), Guatemala (1963–64), Honduras (1974)
• Crossed with Caturra to solve height problem → produced Catuai
History
CATURRA
Caturra
• Compact, high-yield variety but very susceptible to leaf rust
• Dwarf stature, green leaves, average bean size
• Performs best in high-altitude regions
• Economically significant in Central America
Agronomics
• First production in year 3
• High nutritional requirements
• Average ripening and cherry-to-bean conversion
• Planting density: 5,000–6,000 plants/ha with single-stem pruning
Background
• Member of Bourbon–Typica group
• Natural mutation of Bourbon
• Developed by Instituto Agronômico de Campinas, Brazil
History
• Discovered 1915–1918 in Minas Gerais, Brazil
• Single mutation gene called “Guarani” meaning small
• Selection work started in 1937 at IAC
• Released in 1940 to Guatemala and Central America (not released in Brazil)
• Became a key variety across Central America (Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama)
• Represented nearly half of Colombia’s coffee production until 2008 when replaced with rust-resistant trees
• Important parent of Catimor hybrids
History
CATUAI
Catuai
• Compact, high-yielding, but susceptible to leaf rust
• Dwarf stature, green leaves, average bean size
• Adapted for dense planting and efficient harvest
Agronomics
• First production in year 3
• High nutritional requirements
• Average ripening and cherry-to-bean conversion
• Planting density: 4,000–6,000 plants/ha with single-stem pruning
Background
• Bourbon–Typica group
• Cross between Mundo Novo and Caturra
• Created by Instituto Agronômico de Campinas, Brazil
History
• Breeding began in 1949 by crossing Mundo Novo × Caturra
• Released in 1972 after years of selection
• Two main types: red and yellow fruited
• Name “Catuai” from Tupi-Guarani language meaning “very good”
• Spread widely in Brazil, Peru, and other South American countries
• Introduced to: Honduras (1979 trials, 1983 release), Costa Rica (1985), Guatemala (1970s)
• At one time, made up nearly half of Arabica production in the region
• Especially valued in Central America for compact size and suitability for full-sun planting
• Breeding continues with hybrids (e.g., Catuai × Timor Hybrid for rust resistance)
• Related variety “Garnica” developed in Mexico (Mundo Novo × Yellow Caturra), but never fully adopted after INMECAFE dissolved