The Exploration and Utilization of Coffee (Coffea arabica L.) Genetic Resource in Its Center of Origin

Coffee, which is the most popular soft drink in the world, belongs to the genus Coffea in the Rubiaceae family. About 124 species are known in this genus, whereas Coffea arabica L. and Coffea canephora are the two most widely cultivated species worldwide. Coffea arabica is the only tetraploid species in the genus coffea and is self-fertile, while other species are diploid and generally self-incompatible. Ethiopia is the center of origin and diversity for arabica coffee, which is the only species cultivated in the country. The availability of wide genetic variability among the indigenous coffee and the diverse agro-ecologies in the country provided immense possibilities to improve the crop for desirable agronomic and breeding interest traits. Cognizant of this and the occurrence of coffee berry disease (CBD) in Ethiopia for the first time, a coffee breeding program was initiated in the 1970’s aiming at exploiting the available genetic diversity and developing productive varieties combining disease resistance, best quality, and other desirable characteristics. Coffee genetic resource collection, characterization, evaluation, conservation and genetic studies are among the major breeding activities undertaken so far by designing and implementing different breeding strategies following the conventional breeding approach. So far, outstanding achievements have been recorded in collecting 7130 germplasm accessions, generating basic information on the genetics aspects, and developing 44 improved varieties of which seven are F1 hybrids and identifying 149 elite promising genotypes for further evaluation to develop and release a new varieties. Extensive collection of coffee genetic resources from unaddressed areas, and application of molecular breeding techniques such as marker-assisted selection and breeding for stress tolerance, among others, would be the main focus areas of future coffee breeding programs.