Virulence and Reproductive Fitness of Meloidogyne paranaensis Field Populations in Coffee Genotypes.

The aim of this study was to characterize Meloidogyne paranaensis populations collected from infested coffee crops. Methodologies used to characterize the 11 studied populations from municipalities in Paraná and Minas Gerais States involved the morphological analysis of perineal patterns, biochemical analysis by isozyme electrophoresis, sequencing of internal transcribes spacer 1 (ITS-1) and D2/D3 ribosomal DNA (rDNA) regions, reproductive fitness, and virulence characterization in coffee genotypes. Morphological evaluations showed the existence of variation between populations, although the majority of them showed typical perineal patterns. The biochemical identification was based on α-esterase isozyme analyses and resulted in the appearance of three distinct profiles: P1 (typical), P2 (atypical), and a nondescribed profile, P2b. BLAST of the ITS-1 and D2/D3 rDNA regions indicated homology (>95%) with other sequences deposited in GenBank. For reproductive fitness and virulence characterization, 13 coffee genotypes (5 Coffea arabica and 8 C. canephora) were inoculated with 11 M. paranaensis populations. Variation in the reproductive fitness of populations was observed for cultivar Mundo Novo, a genotype without resistance genes, and variation in the virulence of populations was observed in genotypes carrying resistance genes. Three populations exhibited virulence combined with high reproductive fitness, while one showed virulence with low reproductive fitness. Some hosts were resistant to 11 populations, while one of the hosts was resistant to only one population, indicating the presence of different resistance genes. Nevertheless, no relationship was observed between the origin of population and their variations in perineal patterns, esterase profiles, phylogeny, or reproductive fitness in coffee genotypes, or between the different characterizations, although differences were observed within each characteristic.

Rust resistance in Arabic Coffee cultivars in northern Paraná

The objective of the study was to evaluate the resistance to rust in coffee cultivars developed by research institutes of Brazil in Paraná state. Resistance to the local leaf rust races was assessed in high disease intensity field conditions at Londrina and Congonhinhas in 2009 and 2010.The cultivars were developed by the EPAMIG/UFV, IAPAR, IAC and MAPA/Procafé. The resistant standard 'IAPAR 59' and the susceptible standards Catuaí Vermelho IAC 144' and 'Bourbon Amarelo' were used. A randomized block design with three replications and plots with 10 plants was used. A scale from 1 to 5 based on the rust intensity was used to evaluate the resistance. The Catiguá MG 1, Catiguá MG 2, IAPAR 59, IPR 98, IPR 104, Palma II, Paraíso H-419-10-6-2-5-1, Paraíso H-419-10-6-2-10-1, Paraíso H-419-10-6-2-12-1, Pau Brasil MG 1 and Sacramento MG 1 cultivars presented complete resistance to rust at Londrina and Congonhinhas. The cultivars derived from the Catucaí germplasm were susceptible or showed different levels of partial resistance. Partial resistance to the rust was observed in several coffees derived from "Hibrido de Timor". 'Acauã' and 'Obatã IAC 1669-20' presented complete resistance at Londrina, but at Congonhinhas, they were partially resistant, indicating that different rust races have occurred at these two locations.