Uncovering the Fusarium community associated with Hemileia leaf rusts and coffee from Africa and South America.

Fusarium and Neocosmospora species, including two new Fusarium species, dominate fungi associated with Hemileia leaf rusts on coffee in Africa and South America.

• Why it matters: Understanding these fungi is crucial because they may serve as natural biocontrol agents against coffee leaf rust, a major threat to coffee production worldwide.
• What they did: The study analyzed 102 fungal isolates from coffee rust pustules and healthy tissues across four countries using cultural, morphological, and multigene phylogenetic methods, identifying three Fusarium species complexes and two new species.
• The result: Fusarium coffeibaccae, a putative mycoparasite and endophyte, was most common, highlighting its potential for biocontrol applications, and the discovery of new Fusarium species expands knowledge of coffee-associated fungi.