Screening coffee genotypes for brown eye spot resistance in Brazil.

Several researchers have attempted to develop coffee plants that are resistant to brown eye spot (BES); however, no coffee cultivars are resistant to the disease. In the present study, a blend of strains from Cercospora coffeicola was inoculated into 19 Brazilian commercial cultivars and 41 accessions from the Germplasm Collection of Minas Gerais to evaluate the genetic resistance ability within the population and select superior genotypes for the breeding program. After predicting the genotypic values of the estudied material, the evaluations number necessary for selecting genotypes with accuracy and efficiency was determined based on the data of severity to BES. The action of defense mechanisms plant was also investigated by assessing the levels of total soluble phenolic compounds and soluble lignin in contrasting genotypes for disease susceptibility. Based on the results, the accession MG 1207 Sumatra, had an intrinsic genetic capacity to maintain low levels of severity to BES. The genotype MG 1207 Sumatra can substantially contribute to the development of new cultivars, which may lead to the reduced use of pesticides. According to the accuracy and efficiency results obtained, four evaluations BES severity are sufficient to achieve accuracy, providing expressive genetic gains. Finally, the levels of lignin and phenolic compounds were not found to be associated with the resistance of coffee genotypes to BES.

Chemical Composition, Production of Secondary Metabolites and Antioxidant Activity in Coffee Cultivars Susceptible and Partially Resistant to Bacterial Halo Blight.

Coffee production is one of the main agricultural activities in Brazil, and several coffee cultivars with disease resistance have already been developed. The secondary metabolites produced by plants are closely associated with defense strategies, and the resistance of coffee cultivars to bacterial halo blight (BHB) can be related to these compounds. Therefore, this study aims to compare a partially resistant coffee cultivar (Iapar-59) and a susceptible cultivar (Mundo Novo 376/4) to BHB (Pseudomonas syringae pv. garcae) in relation to the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of the leaf extracts. In addition, this study determined the total phenolic and flavonoid contents and phenolic profiles of the Iapar-59 leaf extracts of plants inoculated with P. syringae pv. garcae. The Iapar-59 extract showed a higher content of phenolic compounds and flavonoids than the Mundo Novo 376/4 extract. Both cultivars contained gallic, chlorogenic and caffeic acids; however, the highest contents were quantified in the Iapar-59 cultivar. The leaf extracts from the Iapar-59 cultivar exhibited higher antioxidant activity. Higher concentrations of gallic, caffeic and chlorogenic acids and the presence of vanillin were detected in the extract of cultivar Iapar-59 inoculated with P. syringae pv. garcae.

Atividade antifúngica, in vitro, do óleo de café verde / Antifungal activity, in vitro, of the green coffee oil

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do contato direto e da fração volátildo óleo de café verde, testado nas concentrações de 500, 1.000, 1.500 e 2.000 µL L-1, sobre o crescimento micelial e a esporulação dos fungos Penicillium roqueforti e Rhizopus stolonifer. O óleo essencial de cravo-da-índia na concentração de 800 µL L-1 foi utilizado para comparação. Nas concentrações de 1.500 e 2.000 µL L-1, o óleo de café verde em contato direto proporcionou redução da esporulação do fungo R. stolonifer , sendo estatisticamente semelhante ao óleo de cravo-da-índia. Na fração volátil do óleo de café verde, observou-se redução significativa da esporulação de P. roqueforti e R. stolonifer na concentração de 2.000 µL L-1. O óleo de café verde, em contato direto ou por volatilização, reduziu significativamente o crescimento micelial e a esporulação de ambos os fungos em comparação com a testemunha.(AU)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of direct contact and volatile fraction of from green coffee oil, tested at concentrations of 500, 1,000, 1,500 and 2,000 µL L-1, on mycelial growth and sporulation of Penicillium roqueforti and Rhizopus stolonifer . The essential oil of clove at a concentration of 800 µL L-1 was used for comparison. At concentrations of 1,500 and 2,000 µL L-1, the green coffee oil in direct contact caused a reduction of sporulation for R. stolonifer, similar to clove oil. In the volatile fraction of the green coffee oil, there was a significant reduction in sporulation of P. roqueforti and R. stolonifer at a concentration of 2,000 µL L-1. The green coffee oil, in direct contact or by volatilization, significantly reduced the mycelial growth and sporulation of both fungi compared to the control.(AU)

Imobilização de fungos filamentosos com potencial para uso agroindustrial / Immobilization of filamentous fungi with potential for agribusiness

A imobilização celular representa uma alternativa para a condução de bioprocessos. As células ficam retidas em matrizes e podem ser utilizadas por longos períodos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi testar uma nova metodologia de imobilização de fungos com custo reduzido, avaliar a viabilidade e segurança dos fungos submetidos ao novo método de encapsulamento e determinar a temperatura ideal para armazenar os fungos imobilizados. Os micélios dos fungos Aspergillus niger, Cladosporium cladosporioides e Penicillium solitum foram misturados com 15 g de arroz triturado e 3 g de alginato de sódio, que gotejava em uma solução de cloreto de cálcio a 0,25 M para a formação dos grânulos. Após a secagem em estufa a 26ºC, os grânulos foram armazenados em temperaturas ambiente, geladeira e freezer. Os plaqueamentos foram realizados a cada 15 dias em meio de cultura. As avaliações do tamanho das colônias e esporulação foram realizadas 7, 14 e 21 dias após o plaqueamento, durante 195 dias para A. niger, 225 dias para C. cladosporioides e 210 dias para P. solitum. A temperatura de armazenamento não afetou o desenvolvimento micelial de A. niger e P. solitum. Porém, a esporulação foi reduzida para os grânulos armazenados no freezer. O desenvolvimento micelial de C. cladosporioides foi influenciado pela temperatura. Os grânulos conservados em temperatura ambiente tiveram menor viabilidade. Na análise de microscopia eletrônica de varredura, observou-se que a imobilização é um método seguro no qual o micélio fúngico permanece no interior do grânulo, facilitando o transporte, o armazenamento e a aplicação de micro-organismos.(AU)

Cellular immobilization represents an alternative for the bioprocess conduction, in which the cells are kept in a matrix and can be used over long periods. The objective of this work was to test a new fungi immobilization methodology with reduced cost to evaluate the viability of these fungi when submitted to the new encapsulation method, and to determine the ideal temperature to store the immobilized fungi. The mycelium of the fungi Aspergillus niger, Cladosporium cladosporioides and Penicillium solitum were mixed with 15 g of titrated rice and 3 g of sodium alginate, which was dripped in a 0.25 M calcium chloride solution for the formation of pellets. After drying in an oven at 26ºC, the granules were stored at three temperatures: room, refrigerator and freezer. The platings were carried out every 15 days in culture medium. The evaluations of the colony size and sporulation were carried out 7, 14 and 12 days after plating, for 195 days for A. niger, 225 days for C. cladosporioides, and 210 days for P. solitum. Storage temperature did not affect the mycelial development of A. niger and P. solitum. However, sporulation was reduced for the granules stored in the freezer. The mycelial development of C. cladosporioides was influenced by temperature. The granules conserved at room temperature had lower viability than those stored in the refrigerator and freezer. In the Scanning Electronic Microscopy analysis, it was observed that the immobilization is a safe method in which the fungus mycelium remains inside the granule, facilitating transport, storage and application of micro-organisms.(AU)