Resistance to Coffee Berry Disease in Ethiopia

Genetic composition and diversity of Arabica coffee in the crop’s centre of origin and its impact on four major fungal diseases

“…The strong relationship between genetic composition and incidence of coffee berry disease across the sites could be attributed to the fact that varieties resistant to this disease have been widely used in the plantations as well as spread to smallholder farmers (Labouisse et al, 2008). These cultivars were mainly selections from the forest systems that were established as an immediate response to the catastrophic effects of coffee berry disease outbreak in the main coffee growing areas in the early 1970s (Van der Graaff, 1978; Van der Graaff & Pieters, 1983). Yet, there is no clear information on what proportion of the coffee sites contain cultivars that have been introduced.…”

Over View of Coffee (Arabica Coffee) Breeding in Ethiopia

“…By laboratory and laboratory testing of origin and descendant strains of the parent plant, 218 promising strains were discovered; of these, 13 CBD-resistant varieties were introduced in China for the first time in five years (1972-78) (Table 2). Given the devastating nature of the disease and that it affected all major coffee producing regions of the country, seed distribution and distribution to growers began as soon as possible and many new ones were initiated [16,17]. The introduction of these strains has had a major impact on the country's coffee industry, and they continue to grow in diverse agro-ecologies without protection against disease.…”

Genetics of Horizontal Resistance to Diseases of Crops

“…A few specific examples will be useful here as well. 7 herein) and Caunter & Gracen (1979), well controllable by HR if the matter had not been more simply managed by changing the hybrids' cytoplasm; (3) the many and diverse diseases of sugarcane, all controlled in many countries, with virtually no chemical intervention, by very professional, large-scale HR breeding programmes (Walker, 1987;FAO, 1986 ; Robinson, 1973, exaggerated only a little when he called the crop 'virtually diseasefree'); (4) coffee-berry disease of arabica coffee, perhaps the best example extant of HR revealed by systematic search in populations believed by some to be wholly susceptible ( F A 0 programme in Ethiopiasee Van der Graaff & Pieters, 1983 ;Robinson, 1987) ; ( 5 ) the numerous examples cited above (Section V(2)) and in Appendix I of land-race or quasi-land-race cereals (temperate small grains, tropical upland rices) known from historical evidence to have had potent HR to airborne fungi that was practically effective until negated by disgenic VR breeding; (6) the several rice diseases such as Tungro and bacterial blight as well as blast that were well controlled by land-race HR (Buddenhagen, 1983~2, b ) ; (7) maize in the USA has an extraordinary record of efficient disease and pest control by HR incorporated into the parental inbred lines -I have seen no comprehensive review but have the impression that US maize breeders never made the mistake of misusing VR (as was done in Africa-Robinson, 1973, I 987) ; and (8), as a prospective example, South American Leaf Blight of rubber presents a classic example of the misuse of VR, yet the elements of H R are plainly there and an orderly scheme to breed resistant clones for crown-budding would have very fair prospects of success (Simmonds, 1990). As specific examples, consider : ( I ) potato blight in which Thurston and his colleagues (Thurston, 1971 ; see also Simmonds & Malcolmson, 1967) found plenty of HR, up to remarkably high levels, in Colombian Andigena and diploid potato populations which (predominantly very susceptible) had not previously been subjected to significant selection pressures; (2) southern leaf blight of corn in the USA, a 'new' disease which generated an unnecessary near-hysteria, was, in the light of the work of Lim (1975, Fig.…”

“…As specific examples, consider : ( I ) potato blight in which Thurston and his colleagues (Thurston, 1971 ; see also Simmonds & Malcolmson, 1967) found plenty of HR, up to remarkably high levels, in Colombian Andigena and diploid potato populations which (predominantly very susceptible) had not previously been subjected to significant selection pressures; (2) southern leaf blight of corn in the USA, a 'new' disease which generated an unnecessary near-hysteria, was, in the light of the work of Lim (1975, Fig. 7 herein) and Caunter & Gracen (1979), well controllable by HR if the matter had not been more simply managed by changing the hybrids' cytoplasm; (3) the many and diverse diseases of sugarcane, all controlled in many countries, with virtually no chemical intervention, by very professional, large-scale HR breeding programmes (Walker, 1987;FAO, 1986 ; Robinson, 1973, exaggerated only a little when he called the crop 'virtually diseasefree'); (4) coffee-berry disease of arabica coffee, perhaps the best example extant of HR revealed by systematic search in populations believed by some to be wholly susceptible ( F A 0 programme in Ethiopiasee Van der Graaff & Pieters, 1983 ;Robinson, 1987) ; ( 5 ) the numerous examples cited above (Section V(2)) and in Appendix I of land-race or quasi-land-race cereals (temperate small grains, tropical upland rices) known from historical evidence to have had potent HR to airborne fungi that was practically effective until negated by disgenic VR breeding; (6) the several rice diseases such as Tungro and bacterial blight as well as blast that were well controlled by land-race HR (Buddenhagen, 1983~2, b ) ; (7) maize in the USA has an extraordinary record of efficient disease and pest control by HR incorporated into the parental inbred lines -I have seen no comprehensive review but have the impression that US maize breeders never made the mistake of misusing VR (as was done in Africa-Robinson, 1973, I 987) ; and (8), as a prospective example, South American Leaf Blight of rubber presents a classic example of the misuse of VR, yet the elements of H R are plainly there and an orderly scheme to breed resistant clones for crown-budding would have very fair prospects of success (Simmonds, 1990).…”