Highest Quality Reference Genome Of Arabica Coffee Created: How It Could Reveal Past Secrets

The genome could be key to decoding mysteries of the coffee species' past, and the information obtained can help devise ways to allow the plant to better resist climate change and disease in future

Coffea arabica developed over 600,000 years ago in the forests of Ethiopia through natural mating between two other coffee species, according to a new study. Natural hybridisation between Coffea canephora and Coffea eugenioides resulted in the creation of the species ( Image Source :University at Buffalo/ABP Live )

Scientists have created the highest quality reference genome to date of Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica), the world's most popular coffee species. The genome could be key to decoding mysteries of the coffee species' past, and the information obtained can help devise ways to allow the plant to better resist climate change in the future. Coffea arabica developed over 600,000 years ago in the forests of Ethiopia through natural mating between two other coffee species, according to a new study.