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Cauvery (Catimor) Arabica Photo: placeholder pending image-fill pass

Cauvery (Catimor) Arabica — leaf-rust resistant

Cauvery is the Indian release name of the Catimor group of arabica coffee selections — interspecific hybrids between Caturra and the rust-resistant Hibrido de Timor (HdT). The variety was released by the Central Coffee Research Institute, Balehonnur in the early 1980s as the Indian response to virulent leaf rust races that had begun to overcome the older S.795 selection (Coffee Arabica S 795 Selection). Cauvery now occupies a significant share of arabica replantings in Chikmagalur, Coorg and Wayanad.

Key characteristics

  • Pedigree: Caturra × Hibrido de Timor (Catimor group)
  • Released: 1985 by CCRI, Balehonnur
  • Plant: dwarf-compact, short internodes; suited to close spacing
  • Yield: 1,200-1,500 kg clean coffee/ha under intensive management
  • Leaf rust: high resistance, conferred by HdT-derived resistance genes
  • Bean: medium-bold, A-grade; cup quality slightly inferior to S.795 (mild "Catimor cup")

Cultivation

Cauvery's dwarf habit allows close spacing of 1.8 m × 1.8 m or 2 m × 2 m (around 2,500-3,000 plants/ha) compared with 2.1 m × 2.1 m for S.795. It is grown under a similar two-tier shade canopy (Coffee Shade Cultivation Silver Oak) of silver oak + dadap. The short internodes and compact frame make pruning and harvesting easier and reduce labour costs, which has driven adoption in estates suffering from labour shortages. Standard agronomy includes balanced N-P-K (typically 200:100:200 kg/ha for established bearing blocks), 4-5 splits in the year, and irrigation in February-March when pre-monsoon showers fail.

Pests and diseases

Cauvery is highly resistant to leaf rust (Coffee Leaf Rust Hemileia Vastatrix) — the principal reason for its release and continued planting. Resistance is mediated by multiple HdT-derived genes and remains durable in most Indian estates, though localised breakdowns to newer rust races have been reported. The variety is fully susceptible to white stem borer (Coffee White Stem Borer Xylotrechus) and to coffee berry borer (Coffee Berry Borer Hypothenemus) — these remain the principal pest constraints.

Processing and adoption

Cauvery is processed by both the wet (washed) and dry (natural) methods. Cup quality is regarded as slightly less aromatic than S.795 but with adequate body for commodity blends and acceptable specialty cupping scores when carefully processed. Catimor-group beans have higher density and good outturn ratios; cherry-to-clean conversion is approximately 5:1 wet, 2.5:1 dry. The variety is heavily favoured under Coffee Board replanting subsidy schemes (Coffee Board Subsidy Replanting) in zones with high leaf rust pressure.

See also: Coffee Arabica S 795 Selection, Coffee Arabica Chandragiri, Coffee Arabica Sln 9 Saln 12, Coffee Leaf Rust Hemileia Vastatrix, Coffee Shade Cultivation Silver Oak.

Sources

  1. Cauvery Variety Profile - CCRI Balehonnur. Central Coffee Research Institute.
  2. Coffee Board Catimor Releases. Coffee Board of India.