EVALUATION OF COFFEE GENOTYPES FOR ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE RESISTANCE

Cabos, R. Y. M., B. S. Sipes, C. Nagai, M. Serracin, and D. P. Schmitt. 2010. Evaluation of coffee genotypes for root-knot nematode resistance. Nematropica 40:191-202. Meloidogyne konaensis causes severe damage to the root systems of Coffea arabica cv. Typica 'Guatemala' grown in Kona, Hawaii. Farmers currently employ grafting of the nematode tolerant C. liberica var. dewevrei 'Fukunaga' to C. arabica cv. Typica scions. Greenhouse experiments confirmed C. liberica's tolerance to M. konaensis and M. hapla infection. Vigorous, healthy roots and rapid shoot growth occurred despite the presence of galls and high nematode populations. Coffea purpurea and C. canephora cv. Nemaya had reduced root-knot nematode populations in comparison to C. arabica cv. Typica although C. purpurea did not have the vigorous growth that was observed in C. liberica and C. canephora. Nematode populations were variable among C. liberica and C. canephora individuals, suggesting outcrossing and genetic variation among plants. The screening of C. liberica and C. arabica cultivars from Central America confirmed C. liberica had the least amount of root damage from M. konaensis infestation although C. arabica cvs. Caturra and Eritrean Moca demonstrated low nematode reproduction and moderate levels of tolerance to M. konaensis