Coffee wilt disease – mycolab.ai

Actinomycetes isolated from rhizosphere of wild Coffea arabica L. showed strong biocontrol activities against coffee wilt disease

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Researchers discovered that certain bacteria called actinomycetes, particularly a strain called MUA26, can effectively fight coffee wilt disease, a serious fungal infection that damages coffee plants. These beneficial bacteria produce natural compounds that kill the disease-causing fungus and were tested on coffee seedlings in a greenhouse, showing 83% effectiveness at preventing the disease. This discovery offers coffee farmers an organic alternative to chemical pesticides, which are expensive and harmful to the environment.

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

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Coffee plants are severely damaged by a fungal disease called coffee leaf rust that destroys leaves and can reduce harvests by over 70%. Scientists in China discovered a beneficial fungus called Acremonium persicinum that acts as a natural enemy to the rust-causing fungus, essentially eating and destroying it. Laboratory tests showed this beneficial fungus prevented rust infection in 91% of cases and completely stopped the disease from spreading when applied to infected coffee leaves. This natural biological control offers an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides for protecting coffee crops.

Gene transfer between fungal species triggers repeated coffee wilt disease outbreaks

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A new study found that coffee wilt disease, which has caused major crop losses in Africa, has repeatedly emerged due to genes jumping between different fungal species. These genes travel via special mobile DNA elements called Starships, which act like genetic vehicles carrying pathogenic genes from one fungus to another. When Fusarium fungi exchanged genes this way, they became better at infecting different varieties of coffee plants. Understanding how these genes move is crucial for protecting coffee crops from future disease outbreaks.

Disease: Coffee wilt disease

Actinomycetes isolated from rhizosphere of wild Coffea arabica L. showed strong biocontrol activities against coffee wilt disease

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

Gene transfer between fungal species triggers repeated coffee wilt disease outbreaks