INDUCED PROTECTION IN COFFEA-ARABICA (L) AGAINST THE EFFECTS OF FROSTTEMPERATURE

Coffee plants treated with phosphorated systemic insectides (Solvirex and Disyston) in field trials at Pinhal, Garca and Lucianopolis, SP, B razil, showed to be protected against the effects of freezing temperat ures. Also a better further recovery after the frost occurrence was ob served. Treatments varied according to the product formulation (granul ated or technical) to be applied, dosage and time intervals between tw o consecutive applications. All treated plants received three applicat ions. Chemical analysis of leaf extracts from treated plants showed th at the product enhances an increase in protein and sugar contents corr elated with the protection against the effects of freezing temperature s. In the intercellular spaces of control plant leaves, the presence o f different types of bacteria was observed, which were absent in the t reated plant leaves. Sulphone derivatives were not detected in coffee berries of treated plants. There was no difference in the coffee flavo ur or quality between coffee berries from treated and untreated trees.