Suppression of Rust and Brown Eye Spot Diseases on Coffee by Phosphites and By‐products of Coffee and Citrus Industries

The rust and brown eye spot, caused by Hemileia vastatrix and Cercospora coffeicola, respectively, are the most important fungal diseases on coffee in South America. Their management is mainly by chemical treatment, and there is no genetic resistance to brown eye spot known so far. Considering the need for developing alternative products for their control, the goal of this work was to evaluate the effects of phosphites and by‐products of coffee and citrus industries on rust and brown eye spot. Formulations of coffee and citrus industry by‐products, phosphites and their combination with fungicide were evaluated in field experiments, and their effect on fungal urediniospores and conidia was evaluated in vitro. In the field, treatments were applied individually or in combination and the in vitro assays were performed with manganese phosphite (Reforce Mn), potassium phosphite and citrus industry by‐product (Fortaleza), copper phosphite and coffee industry by‐product (Fitoforce Full), and fungicide. The severity and incidence of rust and brown eye spot on coffee leaves, yield, and leaf retention were evaluated in the field. Percentage of spore germination was evaluated in vitro for both fungi, whereas mycelial growth was evaluated for C. coffeicola only. The treatments Fortaleza, Reforce Mn and Fitoforce Full suppressed both diseases with a reduction in defoliation. In the year 2012, the plants treated with Reforce Mn and Reforce Mn + Fortaleza showed a yield increase of 72 and 88%, respectively, which was similar to the results shown by the fungicide treatment. In vitro inhibition of germination of H. vastatrix urediniospores and of C. coffeicola conidia was observed and suggests that the products exert some toxic effects to both fungi. Finally, the results observed indicate that the combined use of by‐products of plant‐processing industries and phosphites is an alternative and can be added efficiently to the management of coffee diseases.     

Bacteria Responsible for Mucilage-Layer Decomposition in Kona Coffee Cherries

The predominant microbial flora present during decomposition of the mucilage layer of Kona coffee cherries were gram-negative bacteria which fermented lactose rapidly. Cultures isolated from coffee cherries under-going fermentation included species of Erwinia, Paracolobactrum, and Escherichia. Unblemished cherry surfaces and coffee plantation soil also had a microflora containing a high proportion of bacteria belonging to these three genera. Of 168 isolates tested, the 44 strains capable of demucilaging depulped coffee cherries were all members of Erwinia dissolvens. Supernatant growth medium liquids, after removal of E. dissolvens cells, actively decomposed the mucilage layer of depulped cherries.     

Silicon and Triadimenol for the Management of Coffee Leaf Rust

This study documents an experiment that was undertaken in the 2006/2007, 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 growing seasons on Coffea arabica cv. ‘Catuaí Vermelho IAC 144’ that sought to evaluate the effects of various calcium silicate rates combined with the fungicide triadimenol on the incidence of coffee leaf rust. The experimental design was a randomized complete block in a split plot with five treatments (with varied calcium silicate rates and with or without triadimenol) and four replications. Each experimental unit (split plot) consisted of seven coffee plants (14 m²), which were the central five plants used for the evaluations. Calcium silicate (CS) and lime (L) were used according to the following mixtures (M): M1: 0% CS and 100% L; M2: 25% CS and 75% L; M3: 50% CS and 50% L; M4: 75% CS and 25% L; and M5: 100% CS and 0% L. The leaf Si concentration did not increase as CS rates increased in the soil. There was no reduction in the area under rust progress curve (AURPC) as the rates of CS increased in the soil. During the growing seasons 2006/2007, 2007/2008 and 2008/2009, rust incidence reached 94, 96 and 92% on plants that did not receive triadimenol, respectively, whereas the incidence did not exceed 6, 38 and 16%, respectively, for those plants that did. For yield, no interaction was observed between the calcium silicate rates and with or without triadimenol. The yield increased by 117% for plants receiving triadimenol compared with those that did not. The 3‐year experiments indicated that soil amendment with calcium silicate had no effect on either reducing coffee leaf rust incidence or increasing yield. Conversely, as expected, coffee leaf rust symptoms were dramatically reduced on plants sprayed with triadimenol, and this was accompanied by a significant gain in yield.     

Effectiveness of acibenzolar-S-methyl, fungicides and antibiotics for the control of brown eye spot, bacterial blight, brown leaf spot and coffee rust in coffee

This study was carried out to evaluate the potential of acibenzolar‐S‐methyl (ASM), combined or not combined with fungicides and antibiotics for the control of brown eye spot (Cercospora coffeicola) and bacterial blight (Pseudomonas syringae pv. garcae) in coffee seedlings, and ASM combined with conventional fungicide application schedules for the control of coffee rust (Hemileia vastatrix) and brown leaf spot (Phoma costarricencis) under field conditions in two coffee crops in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. ASM protected coffee seedlings against C. coffeicola when applied at the rates of 2.5 and 5 g of active ingredient per hectolitre of water (g a.i. hL^?1), providing 34–55% of disease control, and against bacterial blight, when applied at the rates of 2.5, 10 and 20 g a.i. hL^?1, with 38–57% of disease control. Tebuconazole (100 g a.i. hL^?1) and azoxystrobin (10 g a.i. hL^?1) showed the best results for brown eye spot control. Oxytetracycline + streptomycin, kasugamycin hydrochloride, oxytetracycline + metallic copper, copper oxychloride and mancozeb + copper oxychloride also controlled bacterial blight in levels similar to those shown by ASM. In the field experiments, all fungicide application schedules tested, cyproconazole (December, February, April), epoxiconazole (December, March), tetraconazole (December, February, April), cyproconazole (December, February) and azoxystrobin (January, March) were effective for coffee rust control and provided partial control of brown leaf spot. The results also showed that for all experiments, there was no synergistic effect of the combination of ASM with azoxystrobin, cyproconazole or cupric fungicides.     

Infection Process of Cercospora coffeicola on Coffee Leaf

Brown eye spot, caused by Cercospora coffeicola, is an important disease of coffee. Both adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces were inoculated with a conidial suspension of C. coffeicola. Samples were collected from 4 to 168 h after inoculation and then again at 35 days. Germinated conidia showed positive tropism to stomata where attempted penetrations occurred. Appressoria were not observed. After penetration, C. coffeicola colonized the lacunous parenchyma both inter and intracellularly. Sporulation occurred through or around the stomata. Results from this study provide new insights into the infection process of C. coffeicola on coffee leaf.     

Early diagnostic value of optical coherence tomography in the clinical prediction model for optic nerve injury in saddle space occupying patients

In this study, 50 patients with anterior ischemic optic neuropathy due to saddle block were selected as the experimental group, and 50 healthy subjects were used as the control group to conduct a study. The best corrected visual acuity examination, optical coherence tomography and visual evoked potential examination were performed on the two groups. The results of the study showed that the majority of patients were middle-aged and older people over the age of 50, but the youngest patients were only 37 years old. After various examinations, it was found that patients with optic nerve injury had a significant reduction in the best corrected visual acuity compared with healthy people. After the onset of the disease, the optic nerve fiber layer will first increase and then decline. During the course of the disease, the patient's optic nerve fiber layer will gradually thin to a much lower level than healthy people. And in comparing the thickness of the optic nerve fiber layer in patients with systemic disease and no systemic disease, it is found that the degree of optic nerve damage is more serious in patients with systemic diseases. After the VEP examination, the difference between the P100 wave latency and the N75-P100 amplitude of the diseased eye and the unaffected eye was statistically significant. Moreover, the difference between the patient's diseased eye and the healthy human eye is almost the same as that of the unaffected eye.     

坡向与龄级对新疆野核桃自然保护区野核桃病害的影响

为了解渐危植物新疆野核桃的病害情况,在新疆野核桃自然保护区调查不同坡向、不同龄级野核桃4种病害的患病比例,分析病害种类、病害等级与野核桃胸径及坡向的相关关系。结果表明: 保护区野核桃的主要病害为核桃褐斑病(95.8%)、核桃枯枝病(90.5%)、核桃黑斑病(74.4%)和核桃腐朽病(7.7%)。4个坡向的野核桃均易患核桃褐斑病,阴坡和半阴坡的野核桃易患核桃枯枝病,阳坡和阴坡的野核桃易患核桃黑斑病,半阳坡和半阴坡的野核桃相对易患核桃腐朽病。4个坡向野核桃的4种病害均随病害等级(1～4级)的增加而病株比例减小。4个坡向核桃枯枝病、核桃黑斑病、核桃褐斑病均以中龄树比例最大,其次是老龄树,再次是小树,未见幼苗患病;核桃腐朽病仅发生在老龄树。核桃枯枝病、核桃腐朽病、核桃黑斑病、核桃褐斑病与野核桃的胸径呈显著正相关,核桃黑斑病与坡向呈显著负相关,核桃枯枝病、核桃腐朽病、核桃黑斑病的不同病害等级与胸径和坡向存在相关性。     

Evidence of Alternaria alternata Causing Leaf Spot of Aloe vera in Iran

A leaf spot and leaf blight disease was observed on Aloe vera plants as small, circular to oval dark brown necrotic sunken spots on leaves. Infected tissues collected from different sites in diseased fields were cultured on potato carrot agar medium, and the pathogen was identified as Alternaria alternata on the basis of morphological and cultural characteristics. The conidiophores were branched, straight, golden brown, smooth‐walled, measuring up to μm long by 3 μm wide with one conidial scar. The conidia were golden brown in colour and produced in long branched chains, obclavate in shape and in short conical flask. Pathogenicity tests conducted on healthy potted aloe plants in a glasshouse showed typical leaf spot symptoms after 4–7 days. The optimal temperature for the growth of A. alternata was 25°C.     

Leaf Symptoms on Plum, Coffee and Citrus and the Relationship with the Extent of Xylem Vessels Colonized by Xylella fastidiosa

Leaf petioles of plum, coffee and sweet orange were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The presence of Xylella fastidiosa in the samples was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction and gel electrophoresis. The number of vessels colonized by X. fastidiosa was determined by SEM in petiole areas that were transversally sectioned under liquid nitrogen. The percentage of colonized vessels in petioles of coffee was higher than in petioles of plum and citrus whether trees were exhibiting mild symptoms (MS) or severe symptoms (SS). The percentage of vessels colonized varied from 10.9 (MS) to 38.0% (SS), 26 (MS) to 51.6% (SS), and 8 (MS) to 11.8% (SS) for plum, coffee and citrus, respectively, and did not vary by position within the petiole. Severity of symptoms consistently reflected higher proportion of colonized vessels in coffee and plum, but not in citrus.     

Coffee seeds contain 11S storage proteins

A legumin-like seed protein was purified from the endosperm of coffee ( Coffea arabica L. cv. Colombia). In contrast to legumes, where efficient storage globulin extraction requires buffered saline solutions well above the acidic pK_I of the globulins, coffee legumin is readily extracted with acidic aqueous buffers. The coffee legumin migrates like other 11S storage globulins in sucrose gradients. Subunits of coffee legumin have an apparent molecular mass of about 55 kDa after one-dimensional SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the absence of a reducing agent. In the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol, two polypeptides appear that have apparent molecular masses of 33 and 24 kDa. Two full-length cDNAs were generated from mRNA of developing seeds that were more than 98% homologous. They had open reading frames of 1 458 and 1 467 bp. Each encoded legumin precursors of 486 and 489 amino acids, respectively (M_r=54 136 and 54 818). Examination of a 5' promoter region from a coffee legumin gene revealed a putative legumin-box. Genomic DNA from C . arabica was digested with six different restriction endonucleases. After separation of the fragments by electrophoresis, single discrete fragments on DNA blots hybridized strongly to a cDNA probe for the acidic chain. Other fragments that hybridized weakly with this probe were visible after hybridization at very low stringency. DNA from other species and commercially important cultivars that comprise the genus Coffea produced similar results. Immunocytochemical studies revealed that some legumin was detected in the cytoplasm in mature coffee seeds, but that the majority of it was in large storage vacuoles that accounted for most of the cell volume.     

Gas Exchange and Emission of Chlorophyll Fluorescence during the Monocycle of Rust, Angular Leaf Spot and Anthracnose on Bean Leaves as a Function of their Trophic Characteristics

Measurements related to gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence emission were taken from healthy and diseased bean leaves with rust, angular leaf spot, and anthracnose during lesion development for each disease. The experiments were performed at different temperatures of plant incubation, and using two bean cultivars. The main effect of temperature of plant incubation was in disease development. There was no significant difference between cultivars in relation to disease development and in magnitude of physiological alterations when disease severity was the same for each cultivar. These diseases reduced the net photosynthetic rate and increased the dark respiration of infected leaves after the appearance of visible symptoms and the differences between healthy and diseased leaves increased with disease development. The transpiration rate and stomatal conductance were stable during the monocycle of rust, however, these two variables decreased in leaves with angular leaf spot and anthracnose beginning with symptom appearance and continuing until lesion development was complete. Carboxylation resistance was probably the main factor related to reduction of photosynthetic rate of the apparently healthy area of leaves with rust and angular leaf spot. Reduction of the intercellular concentration of CO₂, due to higher stomatal resistance, was probably the main factor for leaves with anthracnose. Chlorophyll fluorescence assessments suggested that there was no change in electron transport capacity and generation of ATP and NADPH in apparently healthy areas of diseased leaves, but decreases in chlorophyll fluorescence emission occurred on visibly lesioned areas for all diseases. Minimal fluorescence was remarkably reduced in leaves with angular leaf spot. Maximal fluorescence and optimal quantum yield of photosystem II of leaves were reduced for all three diseases. Bean rust, caused by a biotrophic pathogen, induced less damage to the regulation mechanisms of the physiological processes of the remaining green area of diseased leaves than did bean angular leaf spot or anthracnose, caused by hemibiotrophic pathogens. The magnitude of photosynthesis reduction can be related to the host–pathogen trophic relationships.     

Resistance inducers applied alone or in association with fungicide for the management of leaf rust and brown eye spot of coffee under field conditions

The use of resistance inducers is a promising development in the management of plant diseases, owing to their ability to control a broad spectrum of pathogens and improve the efficacy of fungicides. This study evaluates different sources of phosphonates (potassium, manganese, copper), a formulation prepared from the by‐products of the coffee industry (Greenforce CuCa), as well as the effects of their application, alone or in association with fungicide, in the management of two important coffee fungal diseases in Brazil: leaf rust and brown eye spot, caused by Hemileia vastatrix and Cercospora coffeicola, respectively. The effect of these products on defoliation, productivity and chemical composition of coffee beans (content of trigonelline, chlorogenic acid, caffeine and total soluble solids) was evaluated. Among all the alternative products tested individually, potassium phosphonate (P₂O₅—33.6% + K₂O—29%) stood out, particularly for rust control, which was similar to the results of fungicide treatments. Treatments with fungicide, Greenforce CuCa and cuprous oxide, individually, caused less plant defoliation. Regarding the chemical composition of the coffee beans, the manganese phosphonate treatment showed the highest values for trigonelline, chlorogenic acid, caffeine and total soluble solid content. The results of this study show that resistance inducers can be useful in disease management, may come to eventually replace traditional fungicides and can also contribute to the beverage quality.     

Diagrammatic Scale for Assessment of Bacterial Blight in Coffee Leaves

Due to the lack of a standardized visual method for assessing bacterial blight (Pseudomonas syringae pv. garcae) in coffee leaves, a diagrammatic scale was developed and validated to quantify the disease. Leaves were collected in crops and nursery with different intensity of symptoms, and the true severity was determined electronically. Based on the frequency distribution of severity values and according to the Weber–Fechner's law of visual stimulus, the minimum and maximum limits and the intermediate levels in the scale were determined. Validation was performed by ten evaluators who estimated the severity of 50 leaves with different intensity of symptoms. One evaluation was performed without diagrammatic scale and two evaluations with the scale at 7‐day intervals. The accuracy, precision, repeatability and reproducibility of the estimates were evaluated. The scale had nine levels: 0 (0%), 1 (0.1–0.99%), 2 (1–2%), 3 (2.01–4%), 4 (4.01–8%), 5 (8.01–16%), 6 (16.01–25%), 7 (25.01–45%) and 8 (≥45.1%). Using the scale, the evaluators were able to improve accuracy, precision, reproducibility and repeatability of estimates, compared to evaluators without scale. The scale was appropriate to visual estimation of severity of bacterial blight in coffee leaves.     

Coffee,tea, and plasma cholesterol: the Jerusalem Lipid Research Clinic prevalence study.

The association of intake of coffee and tea, assessed by 24 hour dietary recall, with plasma cholesterol and its lipoprotein fractions was studied in a sample of 1007 men and 589 women aged 35-64 resident in Jerusalem. These cross sectional data showed a significant linear association (p less than 0.001) between consumption of coffee in men and plasma cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations. Men who drank five cups of coffee or more had plasma cholesterol concentrations about 0.5 mmol/l (20 mg/100 ml) higher than non-drinkers after controlling for age, ethnicity, body mass, education, season of year, smoking, tea drinking, and dietary intake of fat and carbohydrates. In women adjusted mean plasma cholesterol concentration was 0.34 mmol/l (13 mg/100 ml) higher in coffee drinkers grouped together (p less than 0.01). The test for a linear trend was not significant. The association in both sexes was largely with the low density lipoprotein cholesterol fraction. High density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations were somewhat increased in women who drank coffee (p less than 0.01 for a linear trend) but not in men. Tea drinking was not associated with unadjusted plasma cholesterol concentrations in either sex. Male tea drinkers, but not female, had slightly higher adjusted plasma cholesterol concentrations than non-drinkers (0.15 mmol/l (6 mg/100 ml), p = 0.04). No dose response relation was evident. In this population, characterised by a low intake of saturated fatty acids and relatively low mean plasma cholesterol concentrations, coffee drinking may be a determinant of low density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations.     

咖啡化学成分及其生物活性研究进展

咖啡为茜草科(Rubiaceae)咖啡属(Coffea)植物,位居世界三大饮品之首,具有降低血糖、保护肝脏和神经保护等作用.咖啡化学成分类别较多,包括生物碱、酚酸类、黄酮类、萜类等.咖啡中的化学成分是发挥其生物学功能和形成特色风味的基础,对其化学成分来源和生物活性进行综述,为进一步发展咖啡产业提供依据和理论支撑.     

Coffee oil as a potential feedstock for biodiesel production

A preliminary evaluation of the feasibility of producing biodiesel using oil extracted from defective coffee beans was conducted as an alternative means of utilizing these beans instead of roasting for consumption of beverage with depreciated quality. Direct transesterifications of triglycerides from refined soybean oil (reference) and from oils extracted from healthy and defective coffee beans were performed. Type of alcohol employed and time were the reaction parameters studied. Sodium methoxide was used as alkaline catalyst. There was optimal phase separation after reactions using both soybean and healthy coffee beans oils when methanol was used. This was not observed when using the oil from defective beans which required further processing to obtain purified alkyl esters. Nevertheless, coffee oil was demonstrated to be a potential feedstock for biodiesel production, both from healthy and defective beans, since the corresponding oils were successfully converted to fatty acid methyl and ethyl esters.     

Coffee intake and development of pain during computer work

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The present study sought to determine if subjects who had consumed coffee before performing a simulated computer office-work task found to provoke pain in the neck and shoulders and forearms and wrists exhibited different time course in the pain development than the subjects who had abstained from coffee intake. FINDINGS: Forty eight subjects all working fulltime, 22 with chronic shoulder and neck pain and 26 healthy pain-free subjects, were recruited to perform a computer-based office-work task for 90 min. Nineteen (40%) of the subjects had consumed coffee (1/2 -1 cup) on average 1 h 18 min before start. Pain intensity in the shoulders and neck and forearms and wrists was rated on a visual analogue scale every 15 min throughout the work task.During the work task the coffee consumers exhibited significantly lower pain increase than those who abstained from coffee. CONCLUSIONS: Subjects who had consumed coffee before starting a pain provoking office work task exhibited attenuated pain development compared with the subjects who had abstained from coffee intake. These results might have potentially interesting implications of a pain-modulating effect of caffeine in an everyday setting. However, studies with a double blind placebo controlled randomized design are needed.     

Characterization of pectin lyase produced by an endophytic strain isolated from coffee cherries

AIMS: The effect of endophytic bacterial activity on the quality of coffee beverage was studied. METHODS AND RESULTS: A survey of the micro-organisms in coffee cherries was performed before harvesting, and their growth on the main nutrients available in coffee cherries was determined in vitro. CONCLUSION: Many endophytic bacteria were isolated from surface-sterilized coffee cherries. One of the pectinolytic strains was physiologically and phenotypically characterized, and was tentatively identified by partial 16S rDNA sequencing as Paenibacillus amylolyticus. This endophytic strain produced an extracellular pectinase with maximal activity at 40 degrees C and pH 7.9, and was thermostable up to 45 degrees C. EDTA and metal ions had little effect on pectin lyase activity. Km and Vmax values were 4.6 mg ml(-1) and 94.0 10(-8) mol min(-1) ml(-1), respectively. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Pectin lyases have been found in fungi but rarely in bacteria, and this isolate is a promising tool for regulation studies of these enzymes.     

咖啡多胚现象与多胚苗形态发育的研究

通过目测筛选出咖啡多胚豆(种子),对其进行离体胚培养获得幼小植株,观察分析了多胚及其幼苗的形态发育特征.结果表明,不同倍性咖啡种质均存在多胚现象,不同材料的双胚率不同(变幅在1.06‰～4.46‰),其中四倍体材料普遍比二倍体的高.多胚豆中胚的形态和着生位置各异.多胚再生植株生长发育特点各不相同,一般大胚再生植株生长发育正常;小胚植株长势弱,出现畸形植株及生长过程中夭亡等现象.同一咖啡豆中远离正常胚位的额外胚可能是由胚囊外的体细胞发育而形成的不定胚.     

Coffee breeding in java

By constantly improved techniques in selection, cross-pollination and grafting in Java since 1907, and by accompanying studies in flower biology, fruitsetting and fruit-dropping, increased yields up to 100% are now achieved after two or three generations of coffee breeding.