Authors:
MTENGA, Damian J
., KUSOLWA, Paul M., REUBEN, Shazia. O.W.M and KILAMBO, Deusdedit L. ,Tanzania |
Abstract:
Coffee berry disease (CBD), caused by Colletotrichum kahawae, is a major constraint for
Arabica coffee cultivation in Africa. Several previous studies have revealed molecular markers
associated with its resistance. CBD is a disease that attacks berries at different developmental
stages. The current study was aimed at using of these markers to screen for resistance to the
disease on genotypes and progenies developed from the Tanzanian commercial variety and
Ethiopian accessions at seedling stage. Eleven Ethiopian genotypes were crossed to a variety
KP423. F1 progenies and their parental genotypes were used in the study. Physiological
screening was applied on the hypocotyls of parental genotypes and F1 progenies using the
procedure developed by Van der Vossen in 1976. Marker screening was applied on the DNA
extracted from their young tender leaves using gene specific markers Sat 235 and Sat 207. The
presence of the coffee berry disease resistance genes was revealed in the studied coffee
genotypes amplified by SSR marker Sat 235 and Sat 207. This was confirmed by production of
bands similar to the progenitors of CBD resistance. These findings implied that marker screening
can be used in coffee berry disease resistant genotypes selection at early stages of growth hence
reducing the time of selection cycle. |
