Characterization and pathogenicity of Aspergillus carbonarius on Coffea excelsa causing berry rot and premature fall in Southern Philippines

Abstract

Mycotoxigenic fungi in the family Aspergillaceae are among the most popular pathogens associated with post-harvest conditions. However, a recent discovery of a disease in 30–year–old trees of Excelsa coffee that caused black rot and resulted in the premature falling of the coffee berries in the Philippines. This study aims to characterize the pathogen of Coffea excelsa berries under pre-harvest conditions. Aspergillus carbonarius was ascertained through the combined results of cultural, morphological, molecular, and phylogenetic analyses of the rDNA ITS region of the isolate obtained from thirty diseased berries of twenty coffee trees examined. The results of the pathogenicity test also verified the virulence of the fungus. Hence, this study confirms that the disease infection of A. carbonarius is not only limited to post-production but also initiates pre– harvest disease infection by causing black rot and premature fall of coffee berries in the Philippines.