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Genetic Study Reveals Coffea Arabica's 600,000-Year-Old Origins, Hybrid Nature

Apr 15, 2024, 03:08 PM

Recent studies have unveiled significant insights into the genetic history of Coffea arabica, the dominant source of coffee globally. Researchers have sequenced the genome of Arabica coffee, revealing it as an allotetraploid hybrid derived from C. eugenioides and C. canephora. The genome analysis, published in Nature Genetics, indicates that Arabica coffee originated around 600,000 years ago. This genomic sequencing also explored aspects such as whole genome duplication, pre- and post-domestication bottlenecks, inbreeding, and introgressions. These findings lay the groundwork for future agricultural practices and adaptations, especially concerning resilience to climate change.