New cup out of old coffee: contribution of parental gene expression legacy to phenotypic novelty in coffee beans of the allopolyploid Coffea arabica L.

Background And Aims: Allopolyploidization is a widespread phenomenon known to generate novel phenotypes by merging evolutionarily distinct parental genomes and regulatory networks in a single nucleus. The objective of this study was to investigate the transcriptional regulation associated with phenotypic novelty in coffee beans of the allotetraploid Coffea arabica.

Methods: A genome-wide comparative transcriptomic analysis was performed in C.

Multi-Approach Analysis Reveals Local Adaptation in a Widespread Forest Tree of Reunion Island.

Detecting processes of local adaptation in forest trees and identifying environmental selective drivers are of primary importance for forest management and conservation. Transplant experiments, functional genomics and population genomics are complementary tools to efficiently characterize heritable phenotypic traits and to decipher the genetic bases of adaptive traits. Using an integrative approach combining phenotypic assessment in common garden, transcriptomics and landscape genomics, we investigated leaf adaptive traits in Coffea mauritiana, a forest tree endemic to Reunion Island.

Seed comparative genomics in three coffee species identify desiccation tolerance mechanisms in intermediate seeds.

In contrast to desiccation-tolerant 'orthodox' seeds, so-called 'intermediate' seeds cannot survive complete drying and are short-lived. All species of the genus Coffea produce intermediate seeds, but they show a considerable variability in seed desiccation tolerance (DT), which may help to decipher the molecular basis of seed DT in plants. We performed a comparative transcriptome analysis of developing seeds in three coffee species with contrasting desiccation tolerance.

Plant population dynamics on oceanic islands during the Late Quaternary climate changes: genetic evidence from a tree species (Coffea mauritiana) in Reunion Island.

Past climatic fluctuations have played a major role in shaping the current plant biodiversity. Although harbouring an exceptional biota, oceanic islands have received little attention in studies on species demographic history and past vegetation patterns. We investigated the impact of past climatic changes on the effective population size of a tree (Coffea mauritiana) that is endemic to Reunion Island, located in the south-western Indian Ocean (SWIO).

Genetic diversity and population divergences of an indigenous tree (Coffea mauritiana) in Reunion Island: role of climatic and geographical factors.

Oceanic islands are commonly considered as natural laboratories for studies on evolution and speciation. The evolutionary specificities of islands associated with species biology provide unique scenarios to study the role of geography and climate in driving population divergence. However, few studies have addressed this subject in small oceanic islands with heterogeneous climates.

Integrative analysis of the late maturation programme and desiccation tolerance mechanisms in intermediate coffee seeds.

The 'intermediate seed' category was defined in the early 1990s using coffee (Coffea arabica) as a model. In contrast to orthodox seeds, intermediate seeds cannot survive complete drying, which is a major constraint for seed storage and has implications for both biodiversity conservation and agricultural purposes. However, intermediate seeds are considerably more tolerant to drying than recalcitrant seeds, which are highly sensitive to desiccation.

Inter-genomic DNA Exchanges and Homeologous Gene Silencing Shaped the Nascent Allopolyploid Coffee Genome (Coffea arabica L.).

Allopolyploidization is a biological process that has played a major role in plant speciation and evolution. Genomic changes are common consequences of polyploidization, but their dynamics over time are still poorly understood. Coffea arabica, a recently formed allotetraploid, was chosen to study genetic changes that accompany allopolyploid formation.

Gene coexpression network analysis of oil biosynthesis in an interspecific backcross of oil palm.

Global demand for vegetable oils is increasing at a dramatic rate, while our understanding of the regulation of oil biosynthesis in plants remains limited. To gain insights into the mechanisms that govern oil synthesis and fatty acid (FA) composition in the oil palm fruit, we used a multilevel approach combining gene coexpression analysis, quantification of allele-specific expression and joint multivariate analysis of transcriptomic and lipid data, in an interspecific backcross population between the African oil palm, Elaeis guineensis, and the American oil palm, Elaeis oleifera, which display contrasting oil contents and FA compositions. The gene coexpression network produced revealed tight transcriptional coordination of fatty acid synthesis (FAS) in the plastid with sugar sensing, plastidial glycolysis, transient starch storage and carbon recapture pathways.

Regulatory divergence between parental alleles determines gene expression patterns in hybrids.

Both hybridization and allopolyploidization generate novel phenotypes by conciliating divergent genomes and regulatory networks in the same cellular context. To understand the rewiring of gene expression in hybrids, the total expression of 21,025 genes and the allele-specific expression of over 11,000 genes were quantified in interspecific hybrids and their parental species, Coffea canephora and Coffea eugenioides using RNA-seq technology. Between parental species, cis- and trans-regulatory divergences affected around 32% and 35% of analyzed genes, respectively, with nearly 17% of them showing both.

The coffee genome hub: a resource for coffee genomes.

The whole genome sequence of Coffea canephora, the perennial diploid species known as Robusta, has been recently released. In the context of the C. canephora genome sequencing project and to support post-genomics efforts, we developed the Coffee Genome Hub (http://coffee-genome.

The coffee genome provides insight into the convergent evolution of caffeine biosynthesis.

Coffee is a valuable beverage crop due to its characteristic flavor, aroma, and the stimulating effects of caffeine. We generated a high-quality draft genome of the species Coffea canephora, which displays a conserved chromosomal gene order among asterid angiosperms. Although it shows no sign of the whole-genome triplication identified in Solanaceae species such as tomato, the genome includes several species-specific gene family expansions, among them N-methyltransferases (NMTs) involved in caffeine production, defense-related genes, and alkaloid and flavonoid enzymes involved in secondary compound synthesis.

Genome rearrangements derived from homoeologous recombination following allopolyploidy speciation in coffee.

Allopolyploidization is widespread and has played a major role in flowering plant diversification. Genomic changes are common consequences of allopolyploidization, but their mechanisms of occurrence and dynamics over time are still poorly understood. Coffea arabica, a recently formed allotetraploid, was chosen as a model to investigate genetic changes in allopolyploid using an approach that exploits next-generation sequencing technologies.

Regulation of galactomannan biosynthesis in coffee seeds.

The seed of Coffea arabica accumulates large amounts of cell wall storage polysaccharides (CWSPs) of the mannan family in the cell walls of the endosperm. The variability induced by the growing environment and extensive pairwise correlation analysis with stringent significance thresholds was used to investigate transcript-transcript and transcript-metabolite relationships among 26 sugar-related genes, and the amount of CWSPs and seven soluble low molecular weight carbohydrates in the developing coffee endosperm. A dense module of nine quantitatively co-expressed genes was detected at the mid-developmental stage when CWSPs accumulate.

SNiPloid: A Utility to Exploit High-Throughput SNP Data Derived from RNA-Seq in Allopolyploid Species.

High-throughput sequencing is a common approach to discover SNP variants, especially in plant species. However, methods to analyze predicted SNPs are often optimized for diploid plant species whereas many crop species are allopolyploids and combine related but divergent subgenomes (homoeologous chromosome sets). We created a software tool, SNiPloid, that exploits and interprets putative SNPs in the context of allopolyploidy by comparing SNPs from an allopolyploid with those obtained in its modern-day diploid progenitors.

Contribution of subgenomes to the transcriptome and their intertwined regulation in the allopolyploid Coffea arabica grown at contrasted temperatures.

Polyploidy has occurred throughout the evolutionary history of plants and led to diversification and plant ecological adaptation. Functional plasticity of duplicate genes is believed to play a major role in the environmental adaptation of polyploids. In this context, we characterized genome-wide homoeologous gene expression in Coffea arabica, a recent allopolyploid combining two subgenomes that derive from two closely related diploid species, and investigated its variation in response to changing environment.

BAC-end sequences analysis provides first insights into coffee (Coffea canephora P.) genome composition and evolution.

Coffee is one of the world's most important agricultural commodities. Coffee belongs to the Rubiaceae family in the euasterid I clade of dicotyledonous plants, to which the Solanaceae family also belongs. Two bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) libraries of a homozygous doubled haploid plant of Coffea canephora were constructed using two enzymes, HindIII and BstYI.

Differences in evolution rates among eudicotyledon species observed by analysis of protein divergence.

Genome evolution rates can vary considerably among plants. In particular, a correlation has often been reported between the evolution rate and annual/perennial habit, possibly associated with differences in generation time. For example, among the rosid species whose genome is fully sequenced, Vitis vinifera, a perennial species, was shown to have the genome that evolved the slowest.

High genetic and epigenetic stability in Coffea arabica plants derived from embryogenic suspensions and secondary embryogenesis as revealed by AFLP, MSAP and the phenotypic variation rate.

Embryogenic suspensions that involve extensive cell division are risky in respect to genome and epigenome instability. Elevated frequencies of somaclonal variation in embryogenic suspension-derived plants were reported in many species, including coffee. This problem could be overcome by using culture conditions that allow moderate cell proliferation.

Genome evolution in diploid and tetraploid Coffea species as revealed by comparative analysis of orthologous genome segments.

Sequence comparison of orthologous regions enables estimation of the divergence between genomes, analysis of their evolution and detection of particular features of the genomes, such as sequence rearrangements and transposable elements. Despite the economic importance of Coffea species, little genomic information is currently available. Coffea is a relatively young genus that includes more than one hundred diploid species and a single tetraploid species.

Homeologous gene expression in response to growing temperature in a recent Allopolyploid (Coffea arabica L.).

Allopolyploidy is considered as a major factor contributing to speciation, diversification, and plant ecological adaptation. In particular, the expression of duplicate genes (homeologs) can be altered leading to functional plasticity and to phenotypic novelty. This study investigated the influence of growing temperatures on homeologous gene expression in Coffea arabica L.

Genomic expression dominance in the natural allopolyploid Coffea arabica is massively affected by growth temperature.

• Polyploidy occurs throughout the evolutionary history of many plants and considerably impacts species diversity, giving rise to novel phenotypes and leading to ecological diversification and colonization of new niches. Recent studies have documented dynamic changes in plant polyploid gene expression, which reflect the genomic and functional plasticity of duplicate genes and genomes. • The aim of the present study was to describe genomic expression dominance between a relatively recently formed natural allopolyploid (Coffea arabica) and its ancestral parents (Coffea canephora and Coffea eugenioides) and to determine if the divergence was environment-dependent.

Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of Coffea arabica (L.) is greatly enhanced by using established embryogenic callus cultures.

Background: Following genome sequencing of crop plants, one of the main challenges today is determining the function of all the predicted genes. When gene validation approaches are used for woody species, the main obstacle is the low recovery rate of transgenic plants from elite or commercial cultivars. Embryogenic calli have frequently been the target tissue for transformation, but the difficulty in producing or maintaining embryogenic tissues is one of the main problems encountered in genetic transformation of many woody plants, including Coffea arabica.

Organization and molecular evolution of a disease-resistance gene cluster in coffee trees.

Background: Most disease-resistance (R) genes in plants encode NBS-LRR proteins and belong to one of the largest and most variable gene families among plant genomes. However, the specific evolutionary routes of NBS-LRR encoding genes remain elusive. Recently in coffee tree (Coffea arabica), a region spanning the SH3 locus that confers resistance to coffee leaf rust, one of the most serious coffee diseases, was identified and characterized.

Molecular characterization and functional analysis of the β-galactosidase gene during Coffea arabica (L.) fruit development.

β-D-Galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.