Coffee Species Research Articles

RGeasy: a reference gene analysis tool for gene expression studies via RT-qPCR

Gene expression through RT-qPCR can be performed by the relative quantification method, which requires the expression normalization through reference genes. Therefore, it is essential to validate, experimentally, the candidate reference genes. Thus, although there are several studies that are performed to identify the most stable reference genes, most them validate genes for very specific conditions, not exploring the whole potential of the research since not all possible combinations of treatments and/or conditions of the study are explored. For this reason, new experiments must be conducted by researchers that have interest in analyzing gene expression of treatments and/or conditions present, but not explored, in these studies. Here, we present the RGeasy tool, which aims to facilitate the selection of reference genes, allowing the user to choose genes for a greater number of combinations of treatments/conditions, compared to the ones present in the original articles, through just a few clicks. RGeasy was validated with RT-qPCR data from gene expression studies performed in two coffee species, Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora, and it can be used for any animal, plant or microorganism species. In addition to displaying a rank of the most stable reference genes for each condition or treatment, the user also has access to the primer pairs for the selected reference genes.

Inhibition of Aspergillus spp. growth and ochratoxin A production in Conilon and Arabica coffees based-medium by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Saccharomyces cerevisiae CCMA 0159 is reported as a promising biocontrol agent against ochratoxin A (OTA)-producing fungi in coffee. Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora (var. Conilon or Robusta) are the most widely consumed coffee species around the world, cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions, each exhibiting distinct physicochemical and sensory characteristics. The objective of this study was to compare the growth and OTA production by Aspergillus carbonarius, A. ochraceus, and A. westerdijkiae in C. arabica and C. canephora, along with assessing the efficiency of S. cerevisiae CCMA 0159 in biocontrolling ochratoxigenic fungi in both coffee varieties. A. carbonarius exhibited a higher growth rate and OTA production in both coffee varieties, with C. canephora showing particular susceptibility. Conversely, A. ochraceus and A. westerdijkiae demonstrated lower growth and OTA production. S. cerevisiae was effective in biocontrolling the fungal isolates, inhibiting over 80 % of A. carbonarius growth in both coffee varieties. Among the mechanisms of action of the biological control agent, the production of volatile organic compounds stands out. The results of this study confirm the significant potential of S. cerevisiae CCMA 0159 as a biocontrol agent against Aspergillus for application in coffee-producing areas.

The Use of Liquid Rubber Smoke as PGR on Coffee Seeds Germination

The objectives of this research is to obtain the best concentration of liquid rubber smoke as a growth regulator in the germination of Arabica, Robusta and Liberica coffee seeds. Method of research: location of the research was on Seed Technology Laboratory University of Jambi, the research design was carried out using a randomized block design consisting of a factorial pattern based on 3 factors (Types of Coffee species: Arabica from Kerinci, Robusta from Merangin, and Liberica from Tanjung Jabung Barat), 3 levels of treatment for providing liquid smoke rubber 0%, 2.5%, 5%, by soaking for 5 minutes. With 3 repetitions test. Statistical data analysis by anova using SPSS. The result shows that 3 species of coffee give different response of the treatments, Arabica and Robusta seeds species has relative equal statistical response to Liberica coffee, concentration 2.5% of diluted liquid rubber smoke give the best germination and vigor seeds response performance.

First report of large-berry coffee (Coffea liberica) anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum kahawae in China.

Large-berry coffee (Coffea liberica) is one of the three cultivated coffee species and a precious breeding germplasm in China (Yan et al, 2019). Anthracnose is a damaging epidemic disease on coffee worldwide (Mohammed et al. 2015). Between June and September 2022, anthracnose was observed on coffee plants in Puer area, Yunnan, China and disease incidence (% plants diseased) of 8.5%-28.2% was recorded in the field. The disease symptoms were observed at all growth stages. Lesions on leaves were circular or oval, with a white to gray central zone outlined by a brown margin and surrounded by a chlorotic halo, Φ5.1-18.5 mm; some lesions extended and coalesced later to form large, blighted areas, leading to complete leaf senescence, defoliation and bare blighted branches on heavily infected trees. The spots on coffee berries were oval or fusiform, sunken and brown-black; diseased berries became gray-black and dried-out but remained on the tree. Leaves with typical anthracnose lesions were collected from fields in Simao ( 22.07°E,100.98°N) to isolate the pathogen. Leaf pieces (5×5mm) from the lesion margin were cut, surface-sterilized with 75% ethanol and 2% NaClO, and cultured on PDA at 25°C. Three isolates with the same colony morphology were obtained by hyphal tip purification. Detached and intact leaves of 6-month coffee seedlings were inoculated with Φ5mm mycelial discs of the isolates. Anthracnose lesions developed on the inoculated leaves, with all 3 isolates, 7d after incubation in a growth chamber (25°C, > 90% RH and lighting 8 h/d at 11000 lux). Pathogens with the same colony morphology as those of the original isolates were re-isolated from the infected tissues of inoculated leaves, thus fulfilling Koch's Postulates. The ITS sequence (PP550861) for the isolate was PCR-amplified and Blast-n analyses showed 100 % (554/554bp) identity to Colletotrichum kahawae LWTJ01; so they were the same population and coded as KFTJ02. The actin (ACT), calmodulin(CAL), glyceraldehydes-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPHD) and histone 3 (HIS3) genes (Qiu et al. 2020) were amplified from one of KFTJ02 isolates, sequenced and deposited in NCBI GenBank (OR842543, OR842544, OR842545 & OR842546). A phylogenetic tree was generated based on the concatenated sequences of the four genes and those of related Colletotrichum spp. using MEGA 6.0 and KFTJ02 clustered in the same clade with C. kahawae IMI319418 on the tree (Bootstrap sup.=88%). When cultured at 25°C on PDA for 7 days, its colonies were near round or ovoid, gray-white, contoured, Φ73.2-80.1 (76.2±2.3)mm or growth rate 10.2-11.1(8.1) mm/d (n=10). The hyphae were hyaline, septated, branching at near right angles. Conidial masses formed 14 days after incubation. The conidia were elliptical, hyaline, monocellular, 10.2-15.5 (12.7±1.06)×3.8-5.2 (4.3±0.52) µm (n=50). The appressoria were black-brown, oval or irregular, 7.8-9.3 (8.5±0.81)μm (n= 50). These morphological characteristics were consistent with those of C. kahawae (Bridge et al, 2008). Therefore, KFTJ02 was identified as C. kahawae, which has been found to infect Camellia oleifera, Areca catechu and Ficus microcarpa (Wei et al, 2023; Zhang et al, 2020; Lin 2023). The coffee berry disease pathogen (C. kahawae) is a quarantine species which has not been recorded and so it is first reported on coffee crops in China. Results of the present study provide important references for further studies on this disease.

Heteroploid F1 hybrids generated from Coffea canephora × C. arabica interploidy crossing

Abstract Distant hybrids between two coffee species was considered promising for breeders to select novel genotypes highly resilient to changing global climate, despite pre- and or post-zygotic barriers. However, the different ploidy between C. arabica (2n=4x=44) and its diploid counterparts was another challenging barrier. The expected ploidy level for developed F1 hybrid was triploid. This study was aimed to identify ploidy level of F1 hybrids generated from Coffea canephora × C. arabica interploidy crossing. Ploidy determination was held using indirect methods, i.e. based on morphometric analysis of pollen and stomatal guard cells. Polar and equatorial diameter of 300 freshly collected pollen from each of six individuals of F1 hybrids were measured using ImageJ software. Stomatal frequency was measured as the number of guard cells on leaf area of 1 mm2. Pollen and stomatal guard cells of their diploid maternal and tetraploid paternal were also measured to be used as a standard for ploidy level determination. Generated datasets were immediately analysis statistically using t-Test procedure. The results shows that four of six F1 hybrid individuals had similar pollen size as well as stomatal density to diploid maternal. Meanwhile, another single individual was similar to tetraploid paternal. However, the rest of single individuals were similar to both of maternal and paternal. Based on those results, it could be inferred that there weres three different ploidy levels among F1 hybrid individuals, namely diploid, triploid, and tetraploid.

Proximate Composition and Phytochemical Analysis of Malaysian Liberica sp. Coffee Bean and Its Pulp

Arabica, Robusta, and Liberica are the three main coffee species cultivated globally. Liberica coffee is a minor species, accounting for less than 1% of global cultivation. Due to favorable climatic conditions in Malaysia, Liberica coffee dominates coffee production, accounting for 73%, while Robusta makes up the remaining 27%. Nevertheless, the substantial coffee production resulted in approximately 15 million tons of discarded skin and pulp, contributing to environmental pollution. This study was conducted due to insufficient information and research on the proximate composition and phytochemical compounds of the coffee bean and pulp from Liberica sp. This study aims to determine the proximate composition of coffee beans and pulp extracts from Liberica sp. and to identify the phytochemical composition using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis. The nutritional values of carbohydrates, protein, crude fiber, crude fat, and ash were obtained using proximate analysis. Coffee beans exhibited the highest value for crude protein (11.96%) and crude fiber (11.83%), whereas coffee pulp has the highest significant value for moisture content (68.81%) and ash (7.31%). LC-MS analysis shows emmotin A and deoxymiroestrol were the major phytochemical compounds. These findings contribute to understanding the nutritional value and phytochemical compounds of coffee beans and pulp from Liberica sp. that may contribute to sustainable waste management and other applications in the food and beverage industry.

Targeted metabolomics and transcript profiling of methyltransferases in three coffee species

Coffee plants contain well-known xanthines as caffeine. Three Coffea species grown in a controlled greenhouse environment were the focus of this research. Coffea arabica and C. canephora are two first principal commercial species and commonly known as arabica and robusta, respectively. Originating in Central Africa, C. anthonyi is a novel species with small leaves. The xanthine metabolites in flower, fruit and leaf extracts were compared using both targeted and untargeted metabolomics approaches. We evaluated how the xanthine derivatives and FQA isomers relate to the expression of biosynthetic genes encoding N- and O-methyltransferases. Theobromine built up in leaves of C. anthonyi because caffeine biosynthesis was hindered in the absence of synthase gene expression. Despite this, green fruits expressed these genes and they produced caffeine. Given that C. anthonyi evolved successfully over time, these findings put into question the defensive role of caffeine in leaves. An overview of the histolocalisation of xanthines in the different flower parts of Coffea arabica was also provided. The gynoecium contained more theobromine than the flower buds or petals. This could be attributed to increased caffeine biosynthesis before fructification. The presence of theophylline and the absence of theobromine in the petals indicate that caffeine is catabolized more in the petals than in the gynoecium.

Microbiological, Phytochemical Constituents, and Antioxidant Properties of Fermented Green Robusta Coffee Beans

Robusta coffee is one of Malaysia’s most planted species due to its ability to adapt to the local climate. Nonetheless, the coffee species was perceived as having lower quality and economic value due to bitterness and astringency. It is widely believed that higher caffeine and chlorogenic acid contents in Robusta coffee beans contributed to the unfavourable bitter and astringent flavour. Hence, the present study intends to evaluate the effect of spontaneous wet fermentation (SWF) of locally grown Robusta (<i>Coffea canephora</i> L.) coffee towards the microbiological properties, phytochemical constituents, in particular caffeine and chlorogenic acids (CGA), total phenolic content (TPC), and antioxidant properties. The SWF of green Robusta coffee beans from University Agricultural Park (UAP), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, took place at ambient temperatures between 25 to 28°C, and the pH decreased from 5.2 to 3.64 over five days of fermentation. The total plate count, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeasts were significantly increased to approximately 7 Log10 CFU/g. The SWF has reduced caffeine content by 35%, while the CGA has decreased by roughly 20%. The SWF also led to an increase in TPC of approximately 31.5% and an increase in antioxidant activity of approximately 60%.

Influence of roasting levels on chemical composition and sensory quality of Arabica and Robusta coffee: A comparative study

This study investigated the impact of roasting profiles on the chemical and sensory characteristics of coffee beans (C. canephora and C. arabica). Different roasting times and temperatures were analyzed to understand their influence on physicochemical properties, concentrations of sugars, organic acids, and melanoidins. The research aimed to associate chemical compositions with sensory characteristics to identify roasting profiles resulting in more appreciated coffees. Results revealed connections between sugars, organic acids, and melanoidins with specific roasting profiles. Succinic acid showed the highest concentration in C. canephora at 210 °C/11.01 min, along with the highest concentrations of organic acids in that roasting profile and species. Fructose reached its highest concentration in the 210 °C/11.01 min roast, along with the highest melanoidin content. Spectral analyses highlighted bands associated with chlorogenic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates in coffee. Expert sensory evaluation indicated significant differences, with arabica coffee being more positively evaluated than C. canephora, especially in the roasting profiles at 135 °C/20.20 min and 230 °C/17.43 min. Consumer evaluation also revealed discrepancies in perceptions of acidity, sweetness, aroma, flavor, and overall impression between varieties and roasting profiles. C. arabica received higher scores in the overall impression, except in the 230 °C/17.43 min roasting profile, which showed no significant differences between species. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) contributed to understanding the relationship between coffee species, roasting profiles, and sensory attributes. This analysis allowed for the visualization of sample clusters and the identification of key influences on data variations, explaining 60.3 % of the variation present in the samples.

Leaf surface microbiota transplantation confers resistance to coffee leaf rust in susceptible Coffea arabica.

Coffee leaf rust, caused by the fungus Hemileia vastatrix, has become a major concern for coffee-producing countries. Additionally, there has been an increase in the resistance of certain races of the fungus to fungicides and breeding cultivars, making producers use alternative control methods. In this work, we transplanted the leaf surface microbiota of rust-resistant coffee species (Coffea racemosa and Coffea stenophylla) to Coffea arabica and tested whether the new microbiota would be able to minimize the damage caused by H. vastatrix. It was seen that the transplant was successful in controlling rust, especially from C. stenophylla, but the protection depended on the concentration of the microbiota. Certain fungi, such as Acrocalymma, Bipolaris, Didymella, Nigrospora, Setophaeosphaeria, Simplicillium, Stagonospora and Torula, and bacteria, such as Chryseobacterium, Sphingobium and especially Enterobacter, had their populations increased and this may be related to the antagonism seen against H. vastatrix. Interestingly, the relative population of bacteria from genera Pantoea, Methylobacterium and Sphingomonas decreased after transplantation, suggesting a positive interaction between them and H. vastatrix development. Our findings may help to better understand the role of the microbiota in coffee leaf rust, as well as help to optimize the development of biocontrol agents.

Caffeine Extraction from Sarawak Liberica Coffee

Liberica coffee is a minor coffee species that is cultivated all around the world. There are only a few studies conducted on this coffee species as it only occupies one percent of coffee plantations all around the world. There has yet to be a research study in Malaysia focusing on the caffeine content, the total phenolic content (TPC), and the flavonoid content (TFC) of the liberica sp. coffee mainly cultivated in Sarawak, Malaysia. Thus, in this research, Sarawak liberica sp. coffee was extracted using Soxhlet extractor using ethanol as solvent. The extracted sample was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to identify the caffeine concentration in the sample. Colorimetric assays for phenolic compounds and flavonoids were also performed to determine the total phenolic content (TPC) and the flavonoid content (TFC). As a result, the dry basis of caffeine (w/w) in the extracted sample is 5.404%. In contrast, the total phenolic content of extracted products is 89.472 mg GAE/g of coffee beans, and the total flavonoid content of the extracted products is 308.19 mg quercetin/g of coffee beans. This research will further contribute knowledge for future Sarawak liberica sp. coffee studies.

Machine Learning-Assisted Portable Microplasma Optical Emission Spectrometer for Food Safety Monitoring.

To meet the needs of food safety for simple, rapid, and low-cost analytical methods, a portable device based on a point discharge microplasma optical emission spectrometer (μPD-OES) was combined with machine learning to enable on-site food freshness evaluation and detection of adulteration. The device was integrated with two modular injection units (i.e., headspace solid-phase microextraction and headspace purge) for the examination of various samples. Aromas from meat and coffee were first introduced to the portable device. The aroma molecules were excited to specific atomic and molecular fragments at excited states by room temperature and atmospheric pressure microplasma due to their different atoms and molecular structures. Subsequently, different aromatic molecules obtained their own specific molecular and atomic emission spectra. With the help of machine learning, the portable device was successfully applied to the assessment of meat freshness with accuracies of 96.0, 98.7, and 94.7% for beef, pork, and chicken meat, respectively, through optical emission patterns of the aroma at different storage times. Furthermore, the developed procedures can identify beef samples containing different amounts of duck meat with an accuracy of 99.5% and classify two coffee species without errors, demonstrating the great potential of their application in the discrimination of food adulteration. The combination of machine learning and μPD-OES provides a simple, portable, and cost-effective strategy for food aroma analysis, potentially addressing field monitoring of food safety.

Determination of crop water requirements and potential evapotranspiration for sustainable coffee farming in response to future climate change scenarios

Climate change (CC) is causing a significant threat to agriculture, a sector complicatedly tied to natural resources. Changes in precipitation patterns, atmospheric water content, and rising temperatures intensely affect global agriculture, especially in tropical regions. In this intense CC scenario, potential evapotranspiration (PET) and crop water requirement (CWR) are critical components of agricultural water management. This study evaluates the future impact of CC on precipitation, CWR, and PET in different provinces of Thailand's northern and northeastern regions. Three bias correction methods (Delta (DT), Empirical Quantile Mapping (EQM), and Quantile Mapping (QM)) were employed for precipitation downscaling from the CanESM5 CMIP6-GCM across selected 13 coffee farms with different coffee species. Arabica and Robusta coffee were carefully selected for this analysis. The DT method demonstrated superiority, exhibiting lower RMSE and higher correlation coefficients than EQM and QM. Farm-specific assessments illuminated water demand's complex dynamics during critical growth stages, showcasing variable CWR and PET. During the blooming stage in N-F1, CWR ranged from 16.7 to 33.7 mm/stage, highlighting the variability in water needs. Projected CC impacts on Arabica and Robusta coffee farms in Chiang Rai and Sisaket presented challenges, emphasizing farm-specific strategies to address potential water deficits or surpluses during critical growth phases. Projected 2023, 2028, and 2033 precipitation demonstrated incongruities with CWR and PET. The findings emphasize the crucial role of farm-specific adaptive strategies in mitigating the impacts of changing precipitation patterns on coffee cultivation.

Crop-to-wild gene flow in wild coffee species: the case of Coffea canephora in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Plant breeders are increasingly turning to crop wild relatives (CWRs) to ensure food security in a rapidly changing environment. However, CWR populations are confronted with various human-induced threats, including hybridization with their nearby cultivated crops. This might be a particular problem for wild coffee species, which often occur near coffee cultivation areas. Here, we briefly review the evidence for wild Coffea arabica (cultivated as Arabica coffee) and Coffea canephora (cultivated as Robusta coffee) and then focused on C. canephora in the Yangambi region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There, we examined the geographical distribution of cultivated C. canephora and the incidence of hybridization between cultivated and wild individuals within the rainforest. We collected 71 C. canephora individuals from home gardens and 12 C. canephora individuals from the tropical rainforest in the Yangambi region and genotyped them using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS). We compared the fingerprints with existing GBS data from 388 C. canephora individuals from natural tropical rainforests and the INERA Coffee Collection, a Robusta coffee field gene bank and the most probable source of cultivated genotypes in the area. We then established robust diagnostic fingerprints that genetically differentiate cultivated from wild coffee, identified cultivated-wild hybrids and mapped their geographical position in the rainforest. We identified cultivated genotypes and cultivated-wild hybrids in zones with clear anthropogenic activity, and where cultivated C. canephora in home gardens may serve as a source for crop-to-wild gene flow. We found relatively few hybrids and backcrosses in the rainforests. The cultivation of C. canephora in close proximity to its wild gene pool has led to cultivated genotypes and cultivated-wild hybrids appearing within the natural habitats of C. canephora. Yet, given the high genetic similarity between the cultivated and wild gene pool, together with the relatively low incidence of hybridization, our results indicate that the overall impact in terms of risk of introgression remains limited so far.

The potency of coffee plants in agroforestry system in Baringin Village, Agam Regency, West Sumatra to support social forestry program and its contribution to mitigate climate change

This study investigates the viability of coffee agroforestry systems in supporting Indonesia’s Social Forestry Program and contributing to climate change mitigation efforts. Conducted in the KUPS Kopi Data Baringin management area of West Sumatra, this research assesses the potential of coffee cultivation within an agroforestry system in Baringin Village, Agam District. Data collection encompassed a comprehensive census for social and economic aspects and purposive sampling for vegetation analysis. Findings revealed a diverse range of 29 tree species from 16 families, alongside eight types of agricultural crops from five families. Tree species exhibited lower diversity and abundance indices, while herbaceous and shrub categories demonstrated moderate diversity. Notably, Coffea canephora, the coffee species, exhibited a carbon content of 3.49 tons per hectare, contributing to climate change mitigation efforts and functioning as a valuable CO2 equivalent sink estimated at approximately 13 tons per hectare. Furthermore, the adoption of coffee agroforestry systems resulted in a notable increase in monthly income for KUPS members. These findings underscore the potential of coffee agroforestry systems as a sustainable land-use practice, supporting the Social Forestry Program objectives and making substantial contributions to climate change mitigation in Indonesia’s forest and land management strategies.

The effect of an altitudinal gradient on the abundance and phenology of the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) (ferreri) (Coleoptera: scolytidae) in the Colombia Andes

Globally, the coffee berry borer (CBB) Hypothenemus hampei (Ferreri) is the most severe pest of the commercial coffee species arabica coffee (Coffea arabica). Heterogenous landscapes characterize many coffee-growing areas. We studied the phenology of coffee and the abundance, and development of infestation by CBB within the context an altitudinal gradient in the coffee-growing region of Caldas, Colombia. This was between 1200 m and 1800 m (a.s.l.) from September 2019 to July 2020 covering two seasons of coffee flowering. Coffee berry phenology did not differ over the altitudinal gradient studied, but CBB abundance and berry infestation differed in quantity and timings, with lower altitudes having higher abundances and proportions of infestation than higher altitudes. In the context of CBB management, October through to December is vital for coffee farms <1500 m as CBB abundance and infestation both spike, and March to June is key for farms between 1500-1700 m for the same reasons. In conclusion, coffee farmers in highly heterogeneous landscapes will have to adjust their CBB management according to the altitude gradients of their farm.

Comprehensive Assessment of Coffee Varieties (Coffea arabica L.; Coffea canephora L.) from Coastal, Andean, and Amazonian Regions of Ecuador; A Holistic Evaluation of Metabolism, Antioxidant Capacity and Sensory Attributes

In Ecuador, the cultivation of two main coffee species, Coffea arabica L. and Coffea canephora L., holds significant economic, environmental, social, and public health importance. C. arabica displays wide adaptability to diverse growing conditions, while C. canephora exhibits less versatility in adaptation but is superior in metabolite production in the ripe fruits (with the potential to double caffeine content). Our hypothesis revolves around the differences in the production of secondary metabolites, antioxidant capacity and sensory attributes based on the environmental conditions of the two studies species cultivated in Ecuador. The assessment of the metabolic composition of high-altitude coffee grown in Ecuador involved the determination of secondary metabolites and quantification of the antioxidant capacity through the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay, 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) quenching assay, and ferric reducing antioxidant power assay. In the case of C. arabica, a high positive correlation was observed for total phenolic content (TPC) (4.188 ± 0.029 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g dry weight (dw)) and total flavonoid content (TFC) (0.442 ± 0.001 mg quercetin (QE)/g dw) with the antioxidant activity determined through ABTS free-radical-scavenging activity (23.179 ± 1.802 µmol Trolox (TEAC)/g dw) (R = 0.68), a medium correlation with DPPH• radical-scavenging activity (65.875 ± 1.129 µmol TEAC/g dw) (R = 0.57), and a low correlation with ferric reducing antioxidant power assay ((100.164 ± 0.332 µmol Fe2+/g dw) (R = 0.27). A high correlation (R &gt; 90) was observed for the values evaluated in the case of C. canephora. The caffeine content was high in C. arabica beans from Los Ríos province and in C. canephora beans from Loja.

Soil macrofauna under coffee trees in Brazil: a systematic review

Soil macrofauna provides important ecosystem services. The imbalance of soil biodiversity influences the functions and services that sustain life on the planet, soil quality and the production of agricultural crops. In this sense, it was aimed to perform a systematic review with the macrofauna soil theme in coffee makers in Brazil. The systematic review was performed following the center's guidelines and guidelines and guidelines. All consultations were held from September 2022 to November 2022. The search was performed through the following databases: Theses Bank – Capes, Digital Library, CAB ABSTRACTS, Science Springerlink, Scielo, Science (AAS), ScienceDirect, Nature and Web of Science). The search for gray literature (Google Scholar) was also performed. The search for literature recovered 16 articles, 01 dissertation and 01 summary, these studies contemplated eight Brazilian states, two biomes, two species of coffee. The registration of occurrence of Brazilian macrofauna allowed to verify a wealth of 26 taxonomic groups. The greatest epigeous wealth was verified for the State of Minas Gerais (22, n = 3) and edaphic for the state of Rondônia (25, n = 3). Not all studies perform the edaphic and epigeous evaluation and do not have the same collection pattern which makes an integrative evaluation of the system difficult. Considering the ecosystem services offered by soil macrofauna and wealth recovered in soils under coffee, results signal that coffee culture provides an environment in habitable soil (habitat and food), especially in depth, allowing it to permanence. Such information presents a potential bias for biodiversity conservation in coffee growing.

Xylella fastidiosa en Costa Rica: Impacto económico, relevancia agrícola y una visión general de la investigación nacional

Xylella fastidiosa is a phytopathogenic bacterium considered a quarantine pest in crops of agricultural importance. It is associated with various diseases in crops such as: coffee, citrus, grapes, olive and ornamental species. This bacterium has negative repercussions on the export market of Costa Rica, due to phytosanitary restrictions imposed especially on the phoenix palm (Phoenix spp.). In addition, its high dispersion capacity, the existence of genetic variants and its interaction with other microorganisms make X. fastidiosa a bacterium of interest to agriculture. Currently, different research efforts are being conducted to expand the understanding about X. fastidiosa and involve the general population in the subject. This article describes the economic and social impact of X. fastidiosa on national agricultural production. Information was collected through a bibliographic review and was complemented by contributions from professionals from the Center for Cell and Molecular Biology Research (CIBCM) who currently lead research on the subject.

Mozambican Coffea accessions from Ibo and Quirimba Islands: identification and geographical distribution.

Mozambique does not have a tradition of farming Coffea arabica or Coffea canephora, the two species that dominate the worldwide coffee market. However, native coffee plants have been growing spontaneously and in some cases cultivated in the Ibo and Quirimba islands in the north of the country and Inhambane province in the south. Historically there has been confusion over the precise taxonomic classification of these indigenous coffee plants, with different botanists identifying the species as C. racemosa, C. zanguebariae or various synonyms of both. The present research aims to clarify the subject and provide new information on these little-described coffee species which may prove valuable as new breeding material for future cultivars, something that is sorely needed to face the present and future challenges of coffee production. Leaf samples were collected from 40 accessions from Ibo Island, Quirimba Island and Inhambane province. The samples were sequenced by whole-genome technology and WGS reads were filtered to identify relevant SNP variants. Diversity among the samples was assessed by PCA, and a phylogenetic tree including several Coffea species was built using additional data available in public databases. Experimental data confirm the presence of C. zanguebariae as the only coffee species present in both Ibo and Quirimba Islands, while it appears that C. racemosa is exclusive to the southern Inhambane province. The present research provides the most detailed analysis so far on the genetic identity of the traditional Mozambican coffee crops. This is the prerequisite for undertaking further scientific studies on these almost unknown coffee species and for starting agronomic development programs for the economic revival of Ibo and Quirimba islands based on coffee cultivation. Furthermore, these species could provide much-needed genetic material for the breeding of new hybrids with the two main commercial coffee species.