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, are associated with Hemileia leaf rusts and coffee tissues in Africa and South America, with F. coffeibaccae being most widespread.

• Why it matters: Understanding fungi linked to coffee leaf rusts is crucial for developing biological control strategies, addressing the impact of Hemileia spp. on coffee crops, and filling taxonomic knowledge gaps.
• What they did: A polyphasic taxonomic study analyzed 102 isolates from Africa and South America using cultural, morphological, and multigene phylogenetic methods, identifying three Fusarium species complexes and two new Fusarium species.
• The result: F. coffeibaccae, a putative mycoparasite and endophyte, was most common, supporting its potential as a biocontrol agent against Hemileia rusts, and the study provides a taxonomic foundation for future evaluations.