Identification of Candidate Genes for Drought Tolerance in Commercial Coffee Cultivars
April 27, 2016| |
Drought is a limiting factor in coffee (Coffea arabica) production. While genetic diversity for drought tolerance exists within the coffee genus, the mechanisms of adaption of coffee plants to drought are unknown. A group of scientists in Brazil, led by Luciana Souto Mofatto, Fernanda de Araújo Carneiro, and Natalia Gomes Vieira, compared the drought responses of the commercial coffee cultivars IAPAR59 (drought tolerant) and Rubi, (drought susceptible).
The comparison of DNA libraries identified new candidate genes with differential expression between IAPAR59 and Rubi in drought conditions. Under drought conditions, the genes CaSTK1 (protein kinase), CaSAMT1, CaSLP1 (plant development) and CaMAS1 (ABA biosynthesis) were upregulated in IAPAR59 but not in Rubi. Interestingly, the expression of lipid-transfer protein (nsLTP) genes was also highly upregulated under drought conditions in IAPAR59. This may have been related to the thicker cuticle observed on the abaxial leaf surface in IAPAR59 compared to Rubi.
Candidate genes were selected and their differential expression profiles were confirmed under drought conditions. The identification of these genes should help advance our understanding of drought tolerance in coffee.
For more information, read the full article in BMC Plant Biology.
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