Studies were conducted on fungi isolated from coffee trees affected by Fusarium xylarioides (Heim & Saccas) Steyaert to establish their pathogenicity and identify possible alternate hosts. Coffee and banana plant samples were collected from individual coffee farmers from the coffee growing districts of Mukono, Mpigi, Mubende, Kabarole and Kibaale. The studies were aimed at isolating the type of Fusarium species affecting coffee trees, identifying and characterizing them. Various Fusarium species were found associated with robusta coffee berries, stems and roots. These included Fusarium xylarioides, F. stilboides Wollen‐webber & Reiking, F. solani (Mart.) Saccas, F. lateritium Nees, F.semitectum Berk & Rav, F. oxysporum Schlecht, F. moniliforme Sheldon and F. acuminatum Ell. & Ev. Also recovered from banana roots and pseudo‐stem were F. xylarioides, F. oxysporum, F. solani, F. acuminatum and F. moniliforme. Fusarium xylarioides, F. oxysporum and F. solani were isolated most frequently from roots followed by stems and rarely on berries. Both F. stilboides and F. lateritium were next in abundance and were isolated mostly from berries. In culture, F. xylarioides isolates showed two types of colonies: one was soft, slimy and smooth, while the other was wrinkled. The two F. xylarioides isolates were not compatible. The five commonly isolated Fusarium species from robusta coffee produced symptoms on inoculated robusta coffee clones but F. xylarioides isolates induced the more severe symptoms, killing the greatest number of shoots.
This chapter describes recent advances in the breeding for coffee wilt disease (Gibberella xylarioides) resistance in Africa. It covers the screening, evaluation and multiplication of resistant cultivars and their impact of resistance on sustainable coffee production.
This chapter describes the current status of coffee wilt disease (CWD, Gibberella xylarioides) in Uganda, including its occurrence and distribution, its impact on coffee production, the factors affecting its severity and incidence, and country-specific practices for its control.
Several Fusarium species infect Robusta coffee; these Fusarium xylarioides Steyaert (Gibberella xylarioides Heim and Saccas) are the most virulent and responsible for the destructive Robusta coffee wilt disease in Uganda. To date, F. xylarioides has not been isolated directly from soil, though the pathogen can persist in soil for a short time. In this study, a promising diagnostic target which can be developed into a serological test for F. xylarioides in coffee plants and soil has been identified and validated for identification. Water-soluble extracts of mycelia from six Fusaruim species were resolved by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The different protein profiles from the other five Fusarium species were compared and contrasted with that of F. xylarioides. Protein bands that appeared peculiar to F. xylarioides were cut and injected into rabbits to produce polyclonal antibodies. Dot blot and Western blot analyses showed one immunodominant antigen (27 kDa) common to all F. xylarioides isolates analyzed. No cross-reactivity of anti-27 kDa antibodies were observed in the entire test Fusarium species. The results suggest that polyclonal antibodies raised against the endoantigens from F. xylarioides of 27 kDa, is a promising tool for the rapid, sensitive, and accurate detection of pathogen in soil and plant parts.
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