Análise dos genes homólogos de florescimento em café arábica

Abstract

Although extensive studies have been carried out on coffee physiology and developmental processes, many aspects directly associated to coffee quality require better understanding, such as the flowering regulation process. The asynchronous fruit ripening showed by coffee trees, which is triggered by the sequential flowering found in this species, greatly affects its productivity and leads to higher production costs and a lower cup quality. Thus, in order to get a better understanding of the coffee flowering process, this work identified and characterized the coffee (Coffea arabica L.) FLOWERING LOCUS C, FRIGIDA, REDUCED VERNALIZATION RESPONSE 2 e VERNALIZATION INSENSITIVE 3 in coffee. In silico analysis in the coffee expressed sequence tag database (CAFEST) database allowed the identification of the genes studied in this work, which had their identity confirmed by sequencing. Expression analysis performed by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) showed that the four genes studied are expressed in all tissues analyzed (roots, leaves of plants subjected to water stress, leaves and flowers), and suggested that they are directly involved in the coffee flowering process. Further functional studies comprising mutants for these genes in a model species and in coffee trees will lead to a better understanding of the specific functions displayed by each one of these genes in the coffee flowering induction, as well as a better understanding of this process as a whole.