The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides on the seed health, germination, viability and vigor of different coffee cultivars. Seeds of the Catuaí Vermelho cultivar, with symptoms of blister spot, and of healthy cultivars of Catuaí Vermelho IAC 44 and Mundo Novo 379-19 were inoculated with C. gloeosporioides, by direct contact with the fungus colony for 0; 24; 48; 72; 96 and 120 hours. The variables analyzed were: health with the Blotter test, germination, speed of emergence and seed viability by tetrazolium test. There was an increased incidence of C. gloeosporioides with increasing exposure to the fungus, with 26.0% in Catuaí Vermelho, 21.5% in Catuaí IAC-44 (21.5%) and 11.0% in Mundo Novo IAC 379-19. C. gloeosporioides affected the germination and seed emergence rate of Catuaí Vermelho and Catuaí Vermelho IAC 44 after 96 hours of exposure to the fungus. The effect of C. gloeosporioides on coffee germination and seedling establishment varies with cultivar susceptibility, the presence of parchment and time of exposure to the fungus, but viability decreases with increasing exposure time to the fungus.
Coffea arabica; seed health; tetrazolium; vigor
