Distribution and frequency of the microflora associated with uredospores of Hemileia vastatrix Berk. and Br.

Abstract

For the study of the microflora associated with uredospores of Hemileia vastatrix, coffee plantations in the areas of Mayagüez, San Sebastián and Las Marias were sampled. Samples were taken during the four seasons of the year, and the microflora associated with uredospores of the coffee rust was isolated and identified. Six fungal species and four genera of bacteria were isolated. The fungal species were Verticillium lecanii, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Cladosporium oxysporum, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum and Penicillium spp. The bacteria belong to the genera Pseudomonas, Citrobacter, Micrococus and Bacillus. All microorganisms were consistently found in association with the uredospores throughout the year, but their frequency varied. Verticillium lecanii, C. cladosporioides and Pseudomonas spp. were the most frequently isolated.