Qualitative and quantitative distribution of microflora associated with coffee plants and berries

Abstract

Microbial population associated with coffee soil, rhizosphere, rhizoplane, phyllosphere, caulosphere, developing berries and dried cherries of Coffea arabica L. were studied. In general, microbial population was more in rhizosphere compared to the other samples. Irrespective of the nature of samples, bacterial population seems to be dominating followed by actinomycetes, fungi and yeast. Amongst bacteria species of Bacillus and Pseudomonas appear to be most closely associated with coffee plants. Similarly various species of Aspergillus, Penicillium and Trichoderma amongst fungi and several species of Streptomyces in actinomycetes have been observed. In addition, associations of some yeast genera like Saccharomyces, Candida and Torula were also recorded in phyllosphere, developing berries and dried cherry.