This work aims to isolate and to identify the microorganisms associated with robusta coffee (Coffea canephora Pierre ex Froehner) seeds during the storage period. Thus, coffee seeds cv. Conillon put into different packing bags (transparent plastic, kraft paper and cloth bags) and having different initial moisture contents (25 and 35%, wet basis) were submitted to five storage periods (0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months), in controlled conditions. After each storage period seeds were evaluated in laboratory by the following tests: blotter test, standard germination test, and moisture content determination. Five different fungi genera were isolated and identified as infestation of robusta coffee seeds: Fusarium semitectum, Colletotrichum spp., Alternaria spp., Aspergillus spp., and Penicillium spp., Fusarium semitectum (63-73%) and Alternaria spp. (7-11%) were predominant at the beginning of the seed storage. During the storage period was observed great increase of storage fungi (Aspergillus spp. and Penicillium spp.) incidence in seeds packed in different bags. The seed infestation level showed great variation in relation to the type of packing, during the storage. The increase of fungal incidence was associated to the reduction of coffee seed germination. Fusarium semitectum was observed after 12 months in seeds stored in kraft paper and cloth bags. Plastic bags associated to higher initial moisture content were more efficient in preserving robusta coffee seeds.
coffee; seeds; pathology; storage
