High-throughput sequencing of cDNA extracted from meristems of Coffea arabica cv. Rubi and Iapar59 submitted to different water field conditions

Drought is a wide-spread limiting factor in coffee that affects production, bean development and consequently beverage quality. Within the coffee genus, a genetic diversity exists regarding drought tolerance. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the adaptation of coffee plants to water withdrawal remain largely unclear. In the present work, we compared the molecular responses of two cultivars differing by their response to water stress during the dry season. This was done by analyzing transcriptome of plagiotropic meristems which are a key organ in plant organogenesis.