In a recent study published in Nature Genetics, scientists in Madrid have successfully sequenced the highest-quality reference genome of the popular coffee variety, Arabica. This research has revealed the secrets of Arabica’s lineage, which spans millennia and continents. The study suggests that Arabica was developed over 600 thousand years ago in the forests of Ethiopia through natural crossing between two other coffee species.
The study found that the Arabica population fluctuated over time in response to Earth’s warming and cooling periods before being cultivated in Ethiopia and Yemen. Arabica was then spread around the world. Researchers used genomic information from plants alive today to paint an accurate picture of Arabica’s long history and understand the relationships between modern cultivated varieties.
Arabica is the primary source of around 60 percent of the world’s coffee products. However, due to its low genetic diversity, Arabica is susceptible to pests and diseases, restricting its cultivation to select regions with optimal growing conditions. Understanding the origins and breeding history of contemporary Arabica varieties is essential for developing new cultivars that are better adapted to climate change.
Using cutting-edge DNA sequencing technology, the research team sequenced 39 varieties of Arabica and an 18th-century specimen used by Carl Linnaeus to name the species. The new reference genome is publicly available in a digital database, providing valuable insights into Arabica’s genetic makeup and history.
The study revealed that Arabica was formed as a natural hybridization between Coffea canephora and Coffea eugenioides without human intervention. The researchers used computational modeling to pinpoint the likely timeframe of Arabica’s creation between 610,000 to one million years ago. This suggests that Arabica predates modern humans and coffee cultivation.
Coffee cultivation is believed to have originated primarily in Yemen around the 15th century and spread globally through the legendary seven seeds smuggled by the Indian monk Baba Budan. The diversity of Yemeni coffee varieties may have laid the foundation for the main Arabica varieties grown today.
In conclusion, the study provides valuable insights into the evolutionary history of Arabica coffee, shedding light on its origins, genetic diversity, and geographical distribution. This knowledge is essential for developing sustainable coffee production practices that can withstand the challenges of climate change.