Now Selling Nematode-resistant grafted 'Guatemalan Typica' coffee plants using the 'Fukunaga' rootstock

Questions? Visit the Frequently Asked Questions page and read about questions others have asked or ask your own.

We use horticultural supplies from BetterGrow Hydro. Visit their website for your horticultural needs.

The nematode problem in Kona

• Declining Yields

Coffee yields in Kona have declined since the early 1900s (Schmitt et al 2001). Researchers at the University of Hawaii (CTAHR) have determined that the major cause of this problem is the Kona coffee root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne konaensis (Serracin et al 1999).

• Problem is widespread and serious

It is estimated that 85% of the Kona coffee fields are infested with this nematode and yield losses can exceed 60% (Fleming and Mauri 2001).

'Typica' coffee plant roots destroyed by nematodes.	'Typica' coffee plant damaged by nematodes.

• Solution is grafted plants with resistant rootstock

Research has also shown that a selection of Coffea liberica var. dewevrei designated 'Fukunaga' is fairly resistant to the nematode (Schmitt et al 2001; Bittenbender et al 2001). When 'Fukunaga' is used as rootstock and grafted with 'Guatemala' high yields are obtained.

• Problems with Rootstock Produced from Seed

Unlike tissue culture plants produced at Kona Coffee Nursery, there are several potential problems with using rootstock produced from seed:

• Seed availability is limited as there are only two 'Fukunaga' trees at the Kona Research Station.

• The plants are not self-fertile so that all seed is produced by cross pollination that can lead to genetic variability and loss of nematode resistance. Loss of resistance to the nematode is an even greater problem with seed from second generation 'Fukunaga' plants.

• High quality grafted plants require a dedicated nursery and experienced agriculturalists. Attempting to produce them inin-househouse can increase costs to the grower and take valuable resources away form the farming operation.

• Cup quality is retained in grafted plants

Coffee from 'Progeny 502' grafted to 'Fukunaga' rootstock won the cupping competition at the 2000 Kona Coffee Cultural Festival (Bittenbender et al 2001).

• CTAHR recommends replanting using 'Fukunaga' to limit loss of yield due to nematode damage.

• Kona Coffee Nursery's grafted 'Fukunaga' rootstock plants

• Produced in tissue culture using tissue from the original two trees at the Kona Research Station. These plants have not undergone outcrossing and have nematode resistance identical to the original 'Fukunaga' trees.
• High quality 'Guatemalan Typica' are used as the scion source.
• Grafting is done in a controlled environment to promote consistency and high quality.
• Our staff consists of trained professionals with many years of experience in the coffee industry, plant tissue culture and nursery operations.

The Tissue Culture Process

1. Leaf tissue is taken from the "mother" Fukunaga Coffea liberica trees.	2. New undifferentiated tissue develops.	3. Further proliferation of coffee cells.	4. Coffee cells transferred to medium that causes differentiation into embryos.
5. Embryos begin to form.	6. Embryos mature ready for germination.	7. Embryos germinate into small coffee plantlets.	8. Plants are put into soil.
9. 'Guatemalan Typica' is grafted to rootstock and plants are grown out.

Tissue and plants are produced using state-of-the-art plant tissue culture chambers to assure consistently high quality rootstock.

Tissue culture chamber with growing rootstock tissue.

References

Bittenbender, H.C., D.P. Schmitt, M. Serracin and C.G. Cavaletto (2001) Fukunaga, a Coffee Rootstock Resistant to the Kona Coffee Root-Knot Nematode. Cooperative Extension Service NPH-6

Fleming, K. and S. Mauri (2001) The Economics of Producing Grafted Coffee Plants. Cooperative Extension Service AB-14

Schmitt, D.P., F. Zhang and M. Meisner (2001) Potential for Managing Meloidogyne konaensis on coffee in Hawaii with Resistance and a Nematicide. Nematropica 31(1):67-73.

Serracin, M., D. Schmitt and S. Nelson (1999) Coffee Decline caused by the Kona Coffee Root-Knot Nematode. Cooperative Extension Service PD-16