Drought Stress Responses in Arabica Coffee Genotypes: Physiological and Metabolic Insights

Understanding the impact of drought stress on Arabica coffee physiology and metabolism is essential in the pursuit of developing drought-resistant varieties. In this study, we explored the physiological and metabolite changes in coffee genotypes exhibiting varying degrees of tolerance to drought—namely, the relatively tolerant Ca74110 and Ca74112, and the sensitive Ca754 and CaJ-19—under well-watered conditions and during terminal drought stress periods over two-time intervals (0 and 60 days following the onset of stress). The Metabolites profiling conducted uncovered significant associations between growth and the physiological characteristics of coffee genotypes with distinct drought tolerance behaviors. Initially, no marked differences were observed among genotypes or treatments. However, at the 60-day post-drought onset, notable increases in shoot growth, biomass, CO2 assimilation, pigments, and various physiological parameters were evident, particularly in the relatively tolerant genotypes. Metabolite profiling revealed elevations in glucose, maltose, amino acids, organic acids, and decreases in other metabolites, more pronounced in drought-tolerant genotypes. These alterations were more pronounced in the drought-tolerant genotypes, indicating a correlation with enhanced compatible solutes and energy-associated metabolites crucial for drought tolerance mechanisms. This research introduces GC-MS based metabolome profiling to Ethiopian coffee, shedding light on the intricate responses to drought stress and paving the way for the potential development of drought-resistant coffee seedlings in intensified agro-ecological zones.