Identification of RAPD markers for resistance to coffee berry disease, Colletotrichum kahawae, in arabica coffee

Resistance to Coffee Berry Disease (CBD) in Arabica coffee is controlled by at least three genes which are present in the varieties Hibrido de Timer (T gene), Catimor (T gene), Rume Sudan (R and k genes) and K7 (k gene). Hibrido de Timer, Catimor and Rume Sudan are genetically distant from most of the commercial cultivars, and the utilisation of molecular markers would greatly improve the efficiency of breeding programmes concerned with CBD resistance. The objectives of the present work were therefore: (1) to identify random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers associated with CBD resistance and (2) to identify markers which could be used to select against the genetic background of the resistance donors. Identification of RAPD markers was carried out in three steps. The first step involved the comparison of the RAPD profiles between the susceptible cultivars and the resistant donors. This was followed by comparison of the RAPD profiles between resistant and susceptible types of each donor variety. The final step involved assay of the resistance markers in the first and the second backcrosses between these donors and the recurrent parent. High genetic variability was demonstrated in Catimor, and to some extent in Rume Sudan. Three RAPD markers were shown to be closely associated to the T gene. Attempts to identify markers associated with the R and k genes were less rewarding. The implications of the current observations in relation to breeding for CBD resistance in Arabica coffee are discussed.