Highest quality reference genome of Arabica coffee species created [Video]

Realizing the potential for coffee plants to thrive in the face of climate change may reside in the wisdom of the past.

Uncovering mysteries about its genealogy spanning millennia and countries, researchers co-led by the University at Buffalo (UB) have produced promising results. The team claims to have found the Arabica’s finest quality reference genome, the world’s most popular coffee species.

According to the findings, Coffee arabica naturally arose from two other mating coffee species in Ethiopian woodlands around 600,000 years ago.

The study also showed that Earth’s warming and cooling cycles caused variations in the Arabica population throughout thousands of years. It eventually grew in Yemen and Ethiopia before spreading over the globe.

The details of the team’s researchwere published in …