Preliminary observations on phenological fruit development of Coffea arabica plants grown in the Mediterranean basin

This study investigates the adaptability of Coffea arabica L. cv. Catimor growing under Mediterranean climatic conditions by a phenological development study. The study was conducted in a greenhouse in Sicily, Italy, where coffee plants were grown in a manmade agroforestry system alongside banana and papaya. A total of seven coffee plants were considered for phenological recordings from inflorescence development to fruit ripening using the Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt, and Chemische Industrie (BBCH) scale. Daily mean temperature and humidity data were recorded. The reproductive phase lasted 44 weeks from inflorescence emergence to full ripening, with a single flowering event occurring between mid-May and the end of June. Fruit development lasted from the end of July to the second half of February, representing the longest phase of the cycle, with a gradual fruit ripening occurring from early March to late June. The cultivation system provided favorable microclimatic conditions, with moderately stable annual mean temperatures of 21 °C and annual mean relative humidity of 76%. Overall, our findings suggest potential adaptability of Coffea arabica in greenhouse under Mediterranean conditions as indicated by the ability to complete the reproductive cycle under these conditions.

DOI: 10.26353/j.itahort/2026.126135