Development and validation of SSR markers for Coffea arabica L.

Abstract

With the objective of developing new SSR markers for Coffea arabica, two enriched genomic libraries with probes (GT)15 and (AGG)10 were constructed. A total of 835 clones were sequenced and 756 presented good quality sequences. Redundant sequences were observed for 113 clones (14.94%). SSRs were found in 287 clones (38%). An estimated size of 417.5Kb of the C. arabica genome was sampled, with an average of one SSR per 1.46Kb. Dinucleotide repeats were more frequent than trinucleotides. Four repeat sequences, (AG/CT)n’ (AC/GT)n’ (AAG/CTT)n’ and (AGG/CCT)n represented 61.1% of the total observed. A total of 96 SSR primers were designed and tested by PCR for two C. arabica genotypes. Ninety new SSR markers were validated for further genetic studies of C. arabica.