Genetic diversity of cultivated coffee (coffee arabical) in Tanzania

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Date

2014

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Sokoine University of Agriculture

Abstract

Ten new genotypes and eighteen old cultivars of Cojjea arabica from different areas in Tanzania as well as two reference cultivars (N 39 and KP 423) were characterized morphologically and using coffee DNA microsatellite (SSR) markers. The objective of this study was to determine the level of morphological and molecular variation within and between new and existing coffee varieties in Tanzania. The Morphological characterization was done using 25 character coffee descriptors (IPGRL 1996), while the molecular characterization 30 SSR markers were used. Both quantitative and qualitative morphological traits were recorded and the binary data were subjected to cluster and principal component analysis. Morphological variation among the genotypes was less than 25%. Four main groups were formed and improved hybrids cultivars except N39-1 were clustered in one group with the traditional cultivars N39 and KP423. Genotypes from Cojfee arabica growing regions were clustered in separate groups. There was very little morphological variation within the varieties. Principal component analysis revealed clear separation of genotypes from Kilimanjaro and Arusha from the other group. The hybrid N 39 was grouped with the old cultivars from different regions. The first two principal components accounted fbr a cunuilalive variance of 60%. The study showed narrow genetic base of cultivated C. arabica in Tanzania. Furthermore, total alleles detected 82% were polymorphic and specific. In the cluster analysis, the hybrid varieties clearly separated from the other cultivated cultivars fiom different regions as well as the control N 39 and KP 423 based on SSR. The study demonstrated low morphological variation and hence low genetic variation among the varieties and emphasized the need to broaden the genetic base of Arabica coflee in Tanzania. In addition, die study demonstrated low molecular variation within the varieties indicative of high genetic consistency.

Description

Dissertation

Keywords

Coffee arabica genotype, Coffee-Tanzania, Coffee evaluation

Citation