Thirty coffee progenies homozygous or heterozygous for the genes caturra (Ct), San Ramon (Sr) or laurina (lr) were studied in Campinas to evaluate the yielding capacity of these semi-dwarf coffee types. A triple retangular 5 x 6 lattice, replicated three times with plots having two individual trees, was established in 1967. Individual tree yielding records were taken for the period 1969 to 1972. After the 1972 crop, prunning was performed in one plant of each plot, leaving the other plant as control. Individual tree records for the two following crops were taken. Catuai entries LCH 2077-2-5, H 2077-2-12-158, H 2077-2-5-47, and H 2077-2-12-183 gave the highest total yields in the four years period. The same entries after six consecutive crops have practically equal performance, confirming the feasibility of early selection in C. arabica. No prunning effect was detected on yield, on plant height, and on lateral branches development. Consequently prunning the lower lateral branches may be used to make the mechanical harvesting or spraying operation more efficient mainly for these semi-dwarf cultivars.