Molecular physiology and genetics of coffee resistance to parasites

Abstract

Research activities were therefore developped to identify and clone genes involved in the specific resistance of coffee to nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) and rust (Hemileia vastatrix). A positional cloning project was started to isolate a resistance gene derived from C. canephora, that confers resistance against M. exigua. In addition, disease resistance gene analogs (RGA) were cloned in coffee (C. arabica and C. canephora) using DNA primers designed from conserved motifs (NBS) of known plant resistance (R) genes. In parallel, genes early expressed during the specific resistance reaction of coffee (C. arabica) to the fungus H. vastatrix were isolated from cDNA libraries constructed using the suppression subtractive hybridization method.