Igor Pereira

Colletotrichum species are present in all organs of coffee trees and the importance of them is still controversial, since several populations can infect plant and cause disease or colonize plants in an endophytic form. This study was carried out with the objective to verify the presence of Colletotrichum spp. in different stages of development of coffee fruits and in the exocarp plus mesocarp, endocarp and endosperm of ripe fruits. In Fruits from the cultivars Catuaí Amarelo and Vermelho, Icatu, Topázio, Katipó, Rubi, Acaiá Cerrado and Mundo Novo came from the experimental farm the of Federal University of Lavras, Brazil. In the developing young fruits Colletotrichum spp. occurred at the average incidence of 86.6%. The highest incidence, 94.4% was observed in fruits from Topázio and Rubi cultivars, and the lowest incidences were 72.8% and 78.4%, in fruits from Icatu and Mundo Novo cultivars, respectively. Incidence of Colletotrichum spp. in the tissues of coffee berries varied according to the cultivar and the type of infected tissue. Based on exocarp plus mesocarp infection, the cultivars Topázio, Rubi, Acaiá Cerrado and Icatu were colonized with 84.72%, 79.16%, 77.77% and 48.6%, respectively. In relation to endocarp the maximum colonization was of 9.72% in cultivar Rubi and lower percentage of colonization was observed in Acaiá Cerrado with 1.39%. In relation to endosperm, the maximum colonization was observed in Rubi cultivar with 8.33% and lower percentage of colonization was observed in Mundo Novo and Katipó cultivars, both with 1.39%. Colletotrichum spp. was present in the seeds of all cultivars studied.

In studies involving the interaction Colletotrichum gloeosporioides - coffee trees (Coffea arabica L.) there is little information regarding the pre-penetration, penetration and colonization pathways of this pathogen. The objectives of this work were: 1. to study through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) the pre-penetration and penetration events of C. gloeosporioides in hypocotyls of coffee plantlets; 2. to observe the colonization of Colletotrichum spp. in branches and fruits of coffee trees with blister spot symptoms. The study took place in three trials. In the first trial, it was observed and reported the pre-penetration events of C. gloeosporioides inoculated on hypocotyls of coffee cv. Acaiá Cerrado with and without wounds. The second trial was performed to investigate the colonization of diseased coffee branches that presented drastic wilt and local necrosis was observed. Finally the third trial investigated the colonization of this pathogen in diseased coffee fruits. When C. gloeosporioides was inoculated, germination could be observed in wounded hypocotyls 6 hours after inoculation. Better adhesion of conidia was evident at surface depressions of hypocotyls and germination started by emission of one or two terminal germ tubes. Round or sub-round shaped apressoria appeared 12 hours after inoculation. Up to 72 hours, acervula formation was not observed on inoculated tissues. The wilted branches presented colonization in the phloem and cortical tissues. In fruits at different stages of maturation, it was observed colonization in tissues near the epidermis and collapse of the stomata in the affected area.

With the aim of assessing the effect of selected fungicides on Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, the cause of coffee blister spot, in vitro tests were carried out in the Laboratory of Diagnosis and Control/UFLA, Federal University of Lavras, Brazil. In the in vitro experiments the fungicides were incorporated into malt extract medium (MEA 2%) to evaluate the effect on the fungus growth rate, and concavity slides containing water plus fungicide to assess the conidia germination. The fungicides tetraconazol, triadimenol, chlorothalonil and mancozeb were tested on the mycelial growth inhibition (in the concentrations of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 500 and 1.000 mg L-1) and on the inhibition conidia germination (in the concentrations of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 e 100 mg L-1). The fungicides tetraconazol and triadimenol showed high efficiency on the mycelial growth inhibition. Chlorotalonil and mancozeb showed low efficiency and inefficiency, respectively. As to the germination of conidia, chlorothalonil and tetraconazol demonstrated to be more efficient in low concentrations.

The aim of this work was to assess the effect of selected fungicides on the control of coffee blister spot in the field and to verify the climatic effects on the progress of the disease. Trials were carried out with coffee plants of cultivar Catucaí Vermelho, approximately 8 years old. The fungicides tested were tetraconazol (1L/ha), triadimenol (12Kg/ha), chlorothalonil (3Kg/ha), and mancozeb (2Kg/ha). Climatic data were collected daily from October 2004 to May 2006. The fungicides chlorotalonil and triadimenol provided the best efficiency results on the control of the progress of die-back and the number of fruits, with an increase in the cherry production. The increase of die-back during the period from October to January was possibly induced by the rainfall. Tetraconazol and mancozeb were not efficient. Coffee trees affected by blister spot, even if treated with fungicides, had significant decrease in the fruit production and the untreated healthy trees had their yield 95% higher than of those treated.

The present study was carried out with the objective to provide information on the pre-penetration, penetration and colonization events of isolates of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides from mango and coffee, when inoculated in coffee leaves. The cultivar Catucaí Vermelho was used in all experiments. Coffee leaves were selected, standardized and washed in sterile water. After that, circular areas of 0.5 cm in diameter were marked on the undersurface of the leaves. In the center of each circular area, 20 µL of spore suspension was deposited. One isolate from mango and two from coffee presenting blister spot were used in all trials. The time course of the experiments was 3, 6, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96, 144 and 240 hours after inoculation (h.a.i.). All materials were analyzed in scanning electron microscopy. The conidia of all isolates adhered more frequently on the plant tissue depressions and guard-cells forming septum before germination. The most common penetration via was the direct, although some penetration through stomata also occurred. Isolates obtained from blister spot symptoms germinated on coffee leaves after 6 to 8 h.a.i., producing appressoria after 12 h.a.i., and acervuli after 96 to 144 h.a.i. The isolate from mango germinated on the coffee leaves after 6 to 8 h.a.i. and formed appressoria after 8 to 12 h.a.i., but was unable to form acervuli, bearing conidia directly from conidiogenous hypha on the mycelium.

The aim of this work was to assess the effect of selected fungicides on the control of coffee blister spot in the field and to verify the climatic effects on the progress of the disease. Trials were carried out with coffee plants of cultivar Catucaí Vermelho, approximately 8 years old. The fungicides tested were tetraconazol (1L/ha), triadimenol (12Kg/ha), chlorothalonil (3Kg/ha),

The aim of this study was to analyze the spatial dispersion pattern of the blister spot on coffee trees, through spatial arrangements and the analysis of the dynamics and foci structure of the disease during three consecutive years. No disease progress was observed in this area during the period of study. Seedlings showing disease symptoms were found under the canopy of diseased trees, strongly indicating that the disease may be transmitted through the seeds. Ten foci with 2.5 trees per focus were observed in the studied area. The foci were distributed following the plant rows with elliptical shape. Unitary foci predominated in the area in 52% of the diseased trees. Analyses of runs and doublets showed a random spatial pattern of the disease. These results evidenced that the blister spot occurs from isolated plants (unitary foci) and this characteristic may possibly be explained if the seeds are the main disease transmission agent (seed-plant-seed).

The aim of this work was to study the colonization of leaves, petioles, veins, branches, fruits, and peduncles by C. gloeosporioides, the causal agent of blister spot, under natural infections of cultivar Catucaí Vermelho in field conditions. All materials were analyzed through scanning electron microscopy. The branches and veins of coffee leaves affected by blister spot with descending death as well as hypocotyls from seedlings had their xylem, phloem and cortical cells colonized by C. gloeosporioides while fruits showing blister spot symptoms had their exocarp, mesocarp, endocarp, and endosperm tissues colonized by C. gloeosporioides.