Philippine Journal of Science
149 (3-a): 993-1003, October 2020
ISSN 0031 – 7683
Date Received: 18 May 2020

 

Assessment of the Genetic Diversity of Philippine Arabica Coffee (Coffea arabica L.) Using SSR Markers

 

Miriam D. Baltazar^1,2* and Jermaine Marie Ann O. Fabella²

 

¹Department of Biological Sciences

2National Coffee Research, Development and Extension Center Cavite State University, Indang, Cavite 4122 Philippines

 

 

*Corresponding author: mdbaltazar@cvsu.edu.ph

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Baltazar M, Fabella JMA. 2020. Assessment of the Genetic Diversity of Philippine Arabica Coffee (Coffea arabica L.) Using SSR Markers. Philipp J Sci 149(3A): 993–1003. https://doi.org/10.56899/149.3A.24

 

ABSTRACT

Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica L.) plays a significant contribution to the Philippine coffee industry. Many important genes are continuously lost due to an increase in population, urbanization, and the promotion of registered and popular varieties in the country. This study was conducted to assess the genetic diversity of 27 Philippine C. arabica accessions currently maintained at the Cavite State University – National Coffee Research, Development and Extension Center (CvSU-NCRDEC) field genebank using 19 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Around 80% of the markers used showed polymorphism. A total of 56 alleles were detected, 47 of which were polymorphic. The average number of alleles per locus (3.7) and the polymorphism information content (PIC) (~ 0.40) found in this study were higher than those reported in the literature. Duplicate accessions were identified despite their striking morphological differences, and differentiation of synonymous accessions was also noted. The average genetic similarity was 0.83 and ranged from 0.64–1.0. Overall, the genetic diversity of Philippine C. arabica collection was low. Nonetheless, the higher number of alleles and PIC obtained provide more information in the selection of materials that can be used as parents in hybridization works. Cluster analysis showed three major clusters: Cluster I consisted of most of the accessions from Benguet State University (BSU), while Cluster II consisted of all accessions from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) except Yellow Bourbon. MCA and Yellow Bourbon banded in Cluster III. The cluster analysis offers valuable information in the selection of parents for the development of vigorous F1 hybrids. Further, the results obtained in this study can be utilized in developing strategies to widen the low genetic variability of C. arabica through proper management of the country’s coffee genetic resources, development of effective breeding and selection programs, and varietal registration and identification.