Taxonomy_of_the_coffee_plant

Maragogipe: A mutant of Typica, first discovered near Maragogipe, Bahia, Brazil in 1870. The special
characteristic of this variety is the production of large cherries and seeds, compared to Typica. The
mutation is due to a single dominant gene, which acts not only on the size of the fruit, but also results in
longer internodes and larger leaf size. Due to its relatively low yield, it has not been introduced to Brazil. But
it is still grown in Nicaragua, Guatemala and Mexico due to its high cup quality.
Pacas: A dwarf mutation of Bourbon discovered in 1949 on a farm owned by the Pacas in the Santa Ana
region of El Salvador, where it is still grown today accounting for 25% of the country's coffee production. In
1960, the Salvadoran Institute for Coffee Research began a program of pedigree selection (selection of
individual plants through successive generations) for Pacas.
Pacas is similar to Caturra from Brazil and Villa Sarchi in Costa Rica, where a single-gene mutation
resulted in smaller growth, also called “dwarfism’. Due to its smaller size, this variety has been planted at
higher densities to increase the total production/area on a farm. It performs well at high elevations and has
good yields. lt is known to be susceptible to all main diseases and pests.
Pacamara: A cross between Maragogype and Pacas developed in El Salvador. Similarly to Pacas, it is
known to be susceptible to all main diseases and pests. Pacamara was released by the Salvadoran
Institute of Coffee Research in 1984. Due to incomplete pedigree selection, this variety is genetically
unstable and 10-12% of plants in a plantation revert to Pacas (when planted as seeds).
Maracaturra: Similar to Pacamara, where Caturra was crossed with Maragogipe, e.g. grown in Guatemala.
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