Starmaya: The First Arabica F1 Coffee Hybrid Produced Using Genetic Male Sterility

Abstract

In the present paper, we evaluated the implementation of a seed production system based on the exploitation of male sterility on coffee. We studied specifically the combination between CIR-SM01 and Marsellesa® (a Sarchimor line), which provides a hybrid population called Starmaya. We demonstrated that the establishment of seed garden under natural pollination is possible and produces a sufficient amount of hybrid seeds to be multiplied efficiently and economically. As expected for F1 hybrid, the performances of Starmaya are highly superior to conventional cultivars. However, we observed some heterogeneity on Starmaya cultivar in the field. We confirmed by genetic marker analysis that the off-types were partly related to the heterozygosity of the CIR-SM01 clone and could not be modified. Regarding the level of rust resistance of Starmaya cv., we saw that it could be improved if Marsellesa was more fully fixed genetically. If so, we should be able to decrease significantly the percentage of rust incidence of Starmaya from 15 to 5%, which would be quite acceptable at a commercial level. Starmaya represents the proof of concept for the mass propagation of Arabica F1 hybrid seeds using male sterility. Finally, we discuss the possibility to increase the number of hybrid varieties produced by seed, exploring some initiatives to identify male sterility markers to induce male sterility on any conventional cultivar. This would definitively open up the universe of known Arabica cultivars to be used in breeding new F1 hybrids.

G × E interactions on yield and quality in Coffea arabica: new F1 hybrids outperform American cultivars

“…This variety produces 32% more than Marsellesa with a 43% higher canopy volume and a good stability. It is also the only F1 hybrid that multiplies by seeds, being derived from a male-sterile (Georget et al 2019). The others F1 hybrids are clones that must be disseminated through somatic embryogenesis, which involves more technical constrains and investments (Etienne et al 2018).…”

“…The F1 hybrid Starmaya also deserves to be considered as a good variety because, in addition to offering interesting performances, it offers the advantage of being reproducible by seed. Therefore, this variety will be probably accessible at lower prices and so to more farmers (Georget et al 2019). Finally, F1 hybrids Mundo Mex-H15, Evaluna-H18 and Nayarita-H19 are serious candidates for low-intensity peasant farming systems, but their sensory characteristics need to be further explored.…”

Arabica-like flavour in a heat-tolerant wild coffee species

“…Progress on breeding climate resilient coffee crop plants is at an early stage, with attention focused on the two main coffee crop species, Arabica (Coffea arabica) 13 and robusta (C. canephora) 14 .…”

Breeding for the Main Agricultural Farming of Arabica Coffee

“…So, if the F1 hybrid is the best type of variety to adapt to different farming systems and to climate change, the main problem to be solved is that of seed reproduction (Etienne et al, 2018). We have shown that this obstacle can be overcome by using male sterility, which makes it possible to produce F1 hybrid seeds at a price compatible with high-density cultivation (Georget et al, 2019). The transfer of male sterility genes to good progenitors should now be a research priority for the Arabica breeder community.…”