Deciphering Early Movements and Domestication of Coffea arabica through a Comprehensive Genetic Diversity Study Covering Ethiopia and Yemen

The coffee species Coffea arabica is facing numerous challenges regarding climate change, pests and disease pressure. Improved varieties will be part of the solution. Making optimal use scarce genetic diversity hence essential. In this paper, we present first study C. covering its complete native habitat in Ethiopia together with main domestication centers: Yemen Hararghe region Ethiopia. All all, 555 samples were analyzed a set Single Sequence Repeat markers. Through admixture analysis, six clusters identified. A total two “Core Ethiopian” did not participate species. There four that “Domestication Pathway” arabica. one was named “Ethiopian Legacy” as it represents link between Ethiopia” Hararghe. geographic origin cluster south Ethiopia, namely Gedio, Guji Sidama, which appears source seeds led to Yemen, addition cluster, confirmed “Typica/Bourbon” “New-Yemen” clusters. Hararghe, “Harrar” never described before, likely originates from re-introduction domesticated into Cultivated around world today originate but none are related “new-Yemen” Implications for breeding strategies discussed.