ACT-COFFEE: Addressing climate change threats to coffee production: Investigating proline and energetic metabolism for enhanced coffee tree drought resilience

• Grant number: 24/04715-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2024
• End date: September 30, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Agreement: ANR
• Principal Investigator: Ivan de Godoy Maia
• Grantee: Ivan de Godoy Maia
• Principal researcher abroad: Arnould Savoure
• Institution abroad: Université Paris-Sorbonne (Paris 4), France
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Bruno César Rossini ; Celso Luis Marino ; Luiz Fernando Rolim de Almeida ; Mirian Perez Maluf ; Oliveiro Guerreiro Filho ; Paulo Eduardo Martins Ribolla

Abstract

Coffee production faces major challenges associated with increasing global average temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns that directly impact water availability. In Brazil, coffee is one of the most important traded commodities. Estimates from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicate that climate change will have adverse effects on global coffee productivity and reduce areas suitable for coffee cultivation by 2050. A deeper understanding of drought response mechanisms and underlying processes represents an essential strategy to mitigate the problem of water deficiency in coffee cultivation. This research proposal aims to investigate, through biochemical and molecular analyses, the influence of proline metabolism on water relations and adaptation of coffee plants to drought stress. Proline, a multifunctional amino acid, accumulates in plants when they face challenges imposed by unfavorable environmental conditions. Despite its importance, research into the effects of proline metabolism and its role in the energy metabolism of coffee, especially under water stress and in the stress recovery process, remains limited. Our study will focus on the two most important coffee species: Coffea arabica, which accounts for approximately 60% of global coffee production, and Coffea canephora, used primarily for blending and instant coffee. To conduct our research, we will use contrasting genetic materials available at the Coffee Center of the Instituto Agronômico de Campinas (IAC). In addition to a better understanding of the responses to drought stress, the data to be obtained could significantly contribute to coffee breeding programs and, in the long term, help to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change on coffee cultivation practices. (AU)