An investigation of some in vitro and in vivo primary screening techniques

Abstract

The current twig anti-sporulation screening technique for assessing fungicides for control of Coffee Berry Disease (CBD) has been shown to give inconsistent results. A number of in vitro and in vivo screens were evaluated in an attempt to find a combination of techniques which would give more reliable result!:. Of the techniques assessed coffee seedlings (fungicides applied as therapeutants) and inhibition of spore germination on fungicide-amended media were the most promising. These techniques, when used together with expanding detached green berries (fungicides applied as protectants) were considered to provide a comprehensive technique for identifying candidate fungicides to test in field trials for control of CBD. Recommendations for further work are given.