Scientists have now fully mapped the coffee genome: What does this mean for your morning brew?
Starting the morning for millions around the globe, coffee is undoubtedly one of the most popular breakfast drinks (or any other time drink for that matter) on the planet.
Researchers from the University of California Davis have sequenced the genome for Arabica coffee, which could enable development for disease prevention treatments, benefiting coffee farmers worldwide.
Not only that, but the genome has been added to an online portal, so anyone looking to learn more about one of the world’s (and our) favourite hot drink, can do so…finally…
Coffea Arabica is the most common coffee plant used in most of the coffee that we drink worldwide, with up to three quarters of the world’s population using this specific type of coffee.
That’s a heck of a lot of beans!
You may already be aware that the Coffea Canephora (or Robusta) genome was sequenced just a few years ago, which of course is still widely used, but not to the extent of C. arabica.
By sequencing the genome of the two major components of almost all the coffee blends drunk and grown around the world, we have clarity on what provides the best conditions to reach maximum plant output and much more.
GOOD NEWS for caffeine-fueled #plantsci-entists! @ucdavis researchers publish the Arabica coffee genome. https://t.co/fJYDXJ7M0G #coffee pic.twitter.com/Vgpvf2kO16
— Sarah Jose (@JoseSci) January 13, 2017
With the demand on coffee growing every single year, these findings could be key to unlocking many of the diseases that can ravage worldwide crops, and protect the coffee plant against the effects of global warming.
The full genome sequence has been added to the Phytozome.net genomics research portal, making it available to other scientists and researchers working with the C. arabica plant, or for any interested parties to view and study.
“We hope that the C. arabica sequence will eventually benefit everyone involved with coffee — from coffee farmers, whose livelihoods are threatened by devastating diseases like coffee leaf rust, to coffee processors and consumers around the world,” said Juan Medrano, one of the UC Davis researchers, in the university’s official press release.
This information could lead to a whole host of coffee growing and cultivation innovation, whilst also helping improve yields and the ever-increasing demand on our worldwide coffee supplies.