Hidden diversity of mycoparasitic fungus assiociated with the coffee leaf rust fungus (Hemileia Vastatrix) and it's relation to wellbeing of small coffee productors in Brazil

dc.abstract.en	Coffee leaf rust (Hemileia vastatrix) is one of the most serious threats to coffee production worldwide, particularly affecting smallholder farmers who rely on coffee for their livelihoods. This research investigates the hidden diversity of mycoparasitic fungi associated with H. vastatrix and evaluates their potential as sustainable biological control agents. The study focuses on the identification and characterization of Paranectriella hemileiae, a mycoparasitic fungus observed colonizing rust pustules on coffee leaves. Microscopic examination revealed that P. hemileiae grows directly over H. vastatrix lesions, suggesting a parasitic interaction that may suppress rust development. To complement the biological analysis, interviews with eight smallholder coffee producers in Brazil explored farmers’ motivations, challenges, and perceptions regarding non-conventional agricultural practices. Results showed that health, environmental, and ethical concerns were the main motivations for adopting biological or organic methods, while labour intensity and input availability were cited as barriers. The study concludes that P. hemileiae represents a promising biological control candidate for coffee leaf rust and that integrating such fungal agents with participatory, farmer-driven strategies could strengthen sustainable coffee systems. Together, these findings highlight the importance of linking biological innovation with social adoption to promote ecological resilience and improve the wellbeing of small coffee producers.
dc.affiliation	Uniwersytet Warszawski
dc.affiliation.department	Uniwersyteckie Centrum Badań nad Środowiskiem Przyrodniczym i Zrównoważonym Rozwojem
dc.contributor.author	Legarra Del Barrio, Andrea
dc.contributor.promoter	Machado de Araújo, João Paulo
dc.contributor.promoter	Kulczyk, Sylwia
dc.contributor.reviewer	Machado de Araújo, João Paulo
dc.contributor.reviewer	Derek, Marta
dc.contributor.reviewer	Kulczyk, Sylwia
dc.date.defence	2025-12-16
dc.date.issued	2025
dc.date.submitted	2025-12-09
dc.identifier.apd	246872
dc.language	en
dc.language.other	pl
dc.publisher	Uniwersytet Warszawski
dc.rights	ClosedAccess
dc.subject.en	biological control
dc.subject.en	Brazil
dc.subject.en	coffee
dc.subject.en	Hemileia vastatrix
dc.subject.en	mycoparasite
dc.subject.en	Paranectriella hemileiae
dc.subject.en	smallholder farmers
dc.subject.en	sustainable agriculture
dc.title	Hidden diversity of mycoparasitic fungus assiociated with the coffee leaf rust fungus (Hemileia Vastatrix) and it's relation to wellbeing of small coffee productors in Brazil
dc.title.alternative	Ukryta różnorodność grzybów mikopasożytniczych związanych z grzybem rdzy kawowej (Hemileia Vastatrix) i jej związek z dobrostanem małych producentów kawy w Brazylii
dc.type	MasterThesis