Geographic variation in fungal diversity associated with leaf spot symptoms of Coffea arabica in Yunnan, China
- Author: mycolabadmin
- 9/19/2025
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Summary
Researchers studied the fungi found on coffee leaf spots in two different regions of Yunnan province in China. They discovered that the types of fungi varied significantly between the cooler, higher-altitude Pu’er region (which had more harmful fungi) and the warmer, tropical Xishuangbanna region (which had more beneficial fungi that could fight pests). This information can help coffee farmers choose better disease management strategies based on their location.
Background
Yunnan province produces 98% of China’s coffee and faces significant challenges from fungal diseases, particularly leaf spot pathogens. The diversity of fungi associated with coffee leaf spots in Yunnan remains poorly characterized, limiting targeted disease management strategies.
Objective
This study aimed to characterize the fungal diversity associated with leaf spot symptoms on Coffea arabica leaves across different geographic regions in Yunnan province and identify potential pathogenic and biocontrol agents.
Results
A total of 3,638 fungal OTUs were identified, dominated by Ascomycota (92%), including pathogenic species Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Cercospora coniogrammes. Significant geographic variation was observed with Pu’er City showing higher pathogenic fungi abundance while Xishuangbanna exhibited greater entomopathogenic fungi abundance including Lecanicillium and Simplicillium.
Conclusion
This study reveals significant geographic structuring of coffee-associated fungal communities in Yunnan, with distinct pathogenic and beneficial fungal profiles between regions. The findings support region-specific disease management strategies and highlight untapped biocontrol potential from entomopathogenic fungi in Xishuangbanna.
- Published in:Frontiers in Microbiology,
- Study Type:Observational Study,
- Source: PMID: 41048507, DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1568029