Morphological, molecular, and pathogenic characterization of five Fusarium species associated with coffee berry rot in Malaysia

Coffee berry rot has emerged as an important disease affecting coffee production in Malaysia; however, information on the Fusarium species associated with this disease remains limited. This study aimed to identify and characterize Fusarium species associated with coffee berry rot affecting Coffea arabica , C. canephora , and C. liberica in Malaysia. Surveys conducted during 2023–2024 across eight coffee plantations yielded 30 Fusarium isolates from symptomatic berries exhibiting irregular brown to black lesions that progressed to berry rot. Species identification was performed using morphological characterization and phylogenetic analyses based on the translation elongation factor 1-alpha ( tef1-α ) and β-tubulin ( tub2 ) genes. Integrative analyses identified the isolates as Fusarium proliferatum , F. fujikuroi , F. lateritium , F. incarnatum , and F. solani . Pathogenicity tests on healthy coffee berries confirmed that all five species were capable of causing typical coffee berry rot symptoms, and Koch’s postulates were fulfilled through successful re-isolation of the inoculated pathogens. Among the identified species, F. solani was the most virulent, inducing the highest disease severity in pathogenicity tests, while C. arabica and C. canephora showed greater susceptibility to infection under the experimental conditions. The occurrence of multiple Fusarium species associated with coffee berry rot highlights the complexity of the disease and the importance of accurate pathogen identification for disease management. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Fusarium species causing coffee berry rot in Malaysia.