Researchers sequenced the genome of Arabica coffee

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Geneticists from an international research team led by the University of California, Davis, have publicly released the first public genome sequence of Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica).

In 2014, researchers led by Dr. Philippe Lashermes of the French Development Institute produced a high-quality draft genome of Robusta Coffee, scientifically known as Coffea canephora (syn.Coffea robusta). However, for the higher value and more genetically complex small grain coffee (Coffea arabica), there is no publicly available genome sequence.

"the new genome sequence of Arabica coffee contains information critical to the development of high-quality, disease-resistant coffee varieties that can adapt to climate change and are expected to threaten global coffee production over the next three decades," explained co-author Ph.D. Juan Medrano, from the University of California, Davis.

"We hope that the Coffea arabica sequence will eventually benefit everyone involved in coffee-coffee growers, whose livelihoods are threatened by destructive diseases such as coffee leaf rust, coffee processors and consumers around the world."

Specifically, genomes are sequenced from extraordinary species called geisha.

"the Geisha variety, which originated in the Maji and Goldija mountains of western Ethiopia, near the geisha town, is a choice known for its unique aromatic qualities," the researchers explained.

"Coffee is traditionally grown in very specific growth conditions in acidic soil, warm temperatures and high humidity, around the world at equatorial latitudes below 25 degrees," they said.

"over the past six years, geisha have been successfully planted near Santa Barbara, California, at 19 degrees north latitude, north of any other plantation."

Dr Medrano and his colleagues collected samples of genetic material-DNA and RNA-from different tissues and developmental stages of 23 geisha coffee trees. "We sampled and sequenced the DNA and transcriptome of this breed," they said.

"RNA samples from different tissues and developmental stages were collected and sequenced to enhance genetic model prediction in combination with ab initio."

The team estimates that the geisha genome consists of 1.19 billion base pairs-about 1/3 of the human genome. The study combines the latest techniques of genome sequencing and genome assembly and reveals an estimated 70830 predictive genes.

Looking to the future, the authors will focus on identifying genes and molecular pathways related to the quality of coffee, hoping to better understand the flavor characteristics of geisha coffee. Details of the sequence were presented at the PAG (Plant and Animal Genome) XXV Conference in San Diego, California, on January 15, 2017.