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Identification and potential of the hyperparasite Acremonium persicinum as biocontrol agent against coffee leaf rust

Summary

Coffee farmers face major losses from rust disease, and traditional fungicide treatments have become less effective over time. Scientists in China discovered a microscopic fungus called Acremonium persicinum that naturally attacks and kills coffee rust pathogens. Laboratory tests showed this beneficial fungus could eliminate over 90% of rust spores and completely prevent rust infection on coffee leaves, offering a natural and environmentally-friendly solution for protecting coffee crops.

Background

Coffee leaf rust (CLR) caused by Hemileia vastatrix is a major threat to global coffee production, causing yield losses exceeding 70% in some regions. Current management strategies using fungicides face challenges including pathogen resistance development and environmental contamination. Hyperparasites that infect rust fungi present an environmentally sustainable alternative for biological control.

Objective

This study aimed to identify and characterize hyperparasitic fungi isolated from coffee rust-infected leaves in Yunnan, China, and evaluate their potential as biocontrol agents against CLR.

Results

Strain HY85 was identified as Acremonium persicinum and demonstrated 91.18% inhibition of H. vastatrix urediniospore germination. Cross-inoculation experiments showed complete suppression of rust infection when HY85 was coinoculated with rust spores. qPCR analysis revealed H. vastatrix DNA was undetectable in coinoculated leaf discs, and indoor control efficacy reached 66.67% with visible morphological damage to rust spores.

Conclusion

A. persicinum strain HY85 exhibits significant antagonistic activity against coffee leaf rust through hyperparasitism, disrupting the rust fungus life cycle and causing structural damage to urediniospores. This strain shows considerable potential as an effective and environmentally sustainable biocontrol agent for managing coffee leaf rust disease.
  • Published in:FEMS Microbiology Ecology,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: 10.1093/femsec/fiaf064, PMID: 40581491
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