Phenotypic Reaction of Traditional Arabica Coffee Germplasm to Coffee Leaf Rust (Hemileia vastatrix) and Their Cup Quality at TaCRI, Lyamungu, Tanzania

Nuhu Mbwebwe Aman^1, , Fatuma Jumapili Ramadhani¹, Neyonkulu S. Kahisha¹, Lilian Fanuel Shechambo², Grace Kitange Monyo¹ and Deusdedith Kilambo¹

¹Crop Improvement Research Program, Tanzania Coffee Research Institute, P. O. Box 3004 post code 25301 Moshi, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

²Department of Crop Science and Horticulture, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P. O. Box 3005 Morogoro, Tanzania

Cite this paper:
Nuhu Mbwebwe Aman, Fatuma Jumapili Ramadhani, Neyonkulu S. Kahisha, Lilian Fanuel Shechambo, Grace Kitange Monyo and Deusdedith Kilambo. Phenotypic Reaction of Traditional Arabica Coffee Germplasm to Coffee Leaf Rust (Hemileia vastatrix) and Their Cup Quality at TaCRI, Lyamungu, Tanzania. World Journal of Agricultural Research. 2025; 13(1):1-4. doi: 10.12691/wjar-13-1-1

Abstract

Preserving the coffee's genetic resources through seeds is insufficient due to its short longevity. The coffee germplasm is conserved in the field gene banks or in cold storage (cryopreservation), ensuring the genetic resources' longevity. The repeated occurrence of new virulent races of the coffee leaf rust caused by Hemillia vastrist Berk et Br, and the breakdown of the resistance have challenged breeders to keep searching for other sources of resistance to CLR. This study aimed to identifying coffee accessions resistant to CLR under natural infestation and documenting their cup profile for genetic resource conservation and sustainable utilization. Thirteen coffee accessions were evaluated for their response to CLR and cup scores were documented. The experiment was laid out in a complete randomized block design with six replications. The CLR was assessed using a scale of 1 to 6 based on disease symptoms. The 250g of seed from each accession was collected to establish its cup profile using the Sensory method. Significant differences in the reaction to CLR and variation of cup score were observed. Coffee accession I5, AC98, and R3 were observed to be tolerant to CLR with excellent cup scores while KP532, N197, N110, and M95 were observed to be susceptible to CLR with cup scores ranging from good to excellent. The screened accessions with tolerance to CLR can be utilized in the breeding program. However, molecular characterization to identify and confirm the gene of resistance is important following more field and laboratory evaluation.

Keywords:
coffee leaf rust coffee germplasm resistance susceptible

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]	Sera, G. H., Sera, T., Fonseca, I. C. D. B., and Ito, D. S. (2010). Resistance to leaf rust in coffee cultivars. Coffee science, 5(1), 59-66. 2010.
[2]	Jibat, M. Review on resistance breeding methods of coffee leaf rust in Ethiopia. International Journal of Research in Agriculture and Forestry, 7(6), 32-41. 2020.
[3]	Gichimu, B. M. Field screening of selected Coffea arabica L. genotypes against coffee leaf rust. 10(7). 2012.
[4]	Várzea, V., Pereira, A. P., and Silva, M. D. C. L. D. (2023). Screening for Resistance to Coffee Leaf Rust. In Mutation Breeding in Coffee with Special Reference to Leaf Rust: ProtocolsBerlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg. 209-224. 2023.
[5]	Kilambo, D. L., Mtenga, D. J., Ng’Homa, N. M., Ng’omuo, R., Teri, J., and Mlwilo, B. A decade of contributing to a profitable and sustainable coffee industry in Tanzania: the arabica and robusta improvement programmes. American Journal of Research Communication, 3(1), 31-35. 2015.
[6]	Kiwelu, L., Damas, P., and Mpenda, Z. Profitability Analysis of Coffee Production among Adopters and Non-Adopters of Improved Coffee Varieties in Mbinga and Mbozi Districts. 2021.
[7]	Maro, G., Mbwambo, S., Kilambo, D., and Kiwelu, L. Integrated Soil Fertility Management Practices for Coffee in Tanzania: A Review. World, 12(1), 8-17. 2024.
[8]	Aryal, L. N., Basnet, S., & Aryal, S. Field screening of arabica coffee genotypes against coffee white stem borer (Xylotrechus quadripes) and leaf rust (Hemileia vastatrix) infestation in Kaski, Nepal. Journal of Agriculture and Environment, 156-165. 2022.
[9]	Gokavi, N., Gangadharappa, P. M., Prakash, N. S., Hiremath, J. S., Sathish, D., Nishani, S., and Koulagi, S. Screening of Exotic Collections of Arabica Coffee Genotypes for Coffee Berry Borer and Coffee Leaf Rust Disease Incidence. International Journal of Environment and Climate Change, 12(10), 238-246. 2022.
[10]	Dias, R. A., Ribeiro, M. R., Carvalho, A. M. D., Botelho, C. E., Mendes, A. N. G., Ferreira, A. D., and Fernandes, F. C. Selection of coffee progenies for resistance to leaf rust and favorable agronomic traits. 2019.
[11]	Rojas-Chacón, J. A., Echeverría-Beirute, F., and Gatica-Arias, A. Evaluation of Coffee (Coffea arabica L. var. Catuaí) Tolerance to Leaf Rust (Hemileia Vastatrix) using inoculation of Leaf discs under controlled conditions. In Mutation Breeding in Coffee with Special Reference to Leaf Rust: Protocols. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg. 233-242. 2023.
[12]	Echeverria-Beirute, F. Plant Performance and Bean Quality of Coffee (Coffea arabica L.) under Rust (Hemileia vastatrix Berk. et Br.) Control and Fruit Thinning Treatments (Doctoral dissertation). 2018.
[13]	Várzea, V. M. P., Pedro, J. N. M., Rodrigues, Jr. C. J., and Marques, D. V. Cultural variants in Colletotrichum kahawae In: Proceedings of the 11th Congress of the Mediterranean Phytopathological Union and 3rd Congress of the Sociedade Portuguesa de Fitopatologia, Évora, Portugal, 269-271. 2001.
[14]	Voegele, R. T., and Mendgen, K. (2003) Rust haustoria: nutrient uptake and beyond. New Phytol. 159:93-100. 2003.
[15]	Silva, M. D. C., Várzea, V., Guerra-Guimarães, L., Azinheira, H. G., Fernandez, D., Petitot, A. S., and Nicole, M. Coffee resistance to the main diseases: leaf rust and coffee berry disease. Brazilian journal of plant physiology, 18, 119-147. 2006.
[16]	Kilambo, D. L., Mabagala, R. B., Varzea, V. M. P., Haddad, F., Loureiro, A., and Teri, J. M. Characterization of Colletotrichum kahawae strains in Tanzania. International Journal of Microbiology Research, 5(2), 382-389. 2013.
[17]	Kilambo, D. L., Mlwilo, B., Mtenga, D., and Maro, G. Effect of soils properties on the quality of compact arabica hybrids in Tanzania. American Journal of Research Communication, 3(1), 15-19. 2015.
[18]	Reichel, T., de Resende, M. L. V., Monteiro, A. C. A., Freitas, N. C., and dos Santos Botelho, D. M. Constitutive defense strategy of coffee under field conditions: A comparative assessment of resistant and susceptible cultivars to rust. Molecular Biotechnology, 64(3), 263-277. 2022.
[19]	Viana, M. T. R., Azevedo, H. P. A. D., Pereira, F. A. C., Carvalho, M. A. D. F., and Guimarães, R. J. Coffee genotypes morphophysiological adaptation under coffee leaf rust biotic stress.2021.
[20]	Missio, R. F., Caixeta, E. T., Zambolim, E. M., Pena, G. F., Zambolim, L., Dias, L. A. S., and Sakiyama, N. S. Genetic characterization of elite coffee germplasm assessed by gSSR and EST-SSR markers. In Embrapa Café-Artigoemanais de congresso (ALICE). Genetics and Molecular Research, v. 10(4), 2366-2381, 2011.
[21]	Gimase, J. M., Thagana, W. M., Kirubi, D. T., Gichuru, E. K., and Gichimu, B. M. Genetic characterization of Arabica coffee hybrids and their parental genotypes using molecular markers. 2015.
[22]	Sera, G. H., Sera, T, Ito D. S., Azevedo, J. A., da Mata, J. S, Dói, D. S., Filho, C.R., and Kanayama, F.S. Resistance to Leaf Rust in Coffee Carrying SH3 Gene and others SH Genes. Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology 50(5): 753-757. 2007.
[23]	Nyange, N. E., Kipokola, T. P., Mtenga, D. J., Kilambo, D. L., Swai, D. J., Charmetant, P. Creation and Selection of Coffea arabica Hybrids in Tanzania. Proceedings of 18th International Colloquium Association for Science and Information on Coffee, Helsinki, Finland, August 1999. 2000.
[24]	Van der Vossen, H. A. M. The cup quality of disease-resistant cultivars of Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica). Experimental agriculture, 45(3), 323-332. 2009.
[25]	Mulindwa, J., Kaaya, A. N., Muganga, L., Paga, M., Musoli, P., Sseremba, G., and Bitalo, D. N. Cup quality profiles of Robusta coffee wilt disease resistant varieties grown in three agro‐ecologies in Uganda. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 102(3), 1225-1232. 2022.
[26]	Filete, C. A., Moreira, T. R., dos Santos, A. R., dos Santos Gomes, W., Guarçoni, R. C., Moreli, A. P., and Pereira, L. L. The New standpoints for the terroir of Coffea canephora from Southwestern Brazil: Edaphic and sensorial perspective. Agronomy, 12(8), 1931. 2022.