Pseudomonas syringae pv. garcae causes the disease known as halo blight of the coffee tree. It can cause up to 70% losses in nurseries and fields established in regions under strong winds, mild temperatures, frequent and well distributed rains. The survey detected the frequent incidence of the halo blight with variable severity, alternating through the years in the mountainous areas of the "Triângulo Mineiro" and "Alto Paranaíba" with irregular topography and altitudes over the 1000 meters. It is a serious problem, which may limit the coffee cultivation due to threat of the disease. A clear zone with favorable conditions for occurrence of the halo blight was defined. It is composed by the counties of Serra do Salitre, Carmo do Paranaíba, Rio Paranaíba, São Gotardo and Tiros. The bacteria P. s. pv. garcae and P. cichorii were recovered from healthy leaves of coffee trees, in both seedlings and mature trees. The recovery was conducted using the friction of the leaves in selective culture media in the absence of symptoms, demonstrating the possibility of detecting the pathogen in healthy plants. Among the varieties requested by the producers to be used in 2003/2004, there are no available resistant varieties, which is unfavorable for disease management.
halo blight; epidemiology; genetic resistance; Coffea Arabica
