MANILA — A council of the Department of Science and Technology has developed DNA tests to identify local coffee varieties that are more resistant to pests and disease.

The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development said the new LAMP (loop-mediated isotherma, amplification) technology developed by a team led by Dr. Ernelea Cao of UP Diliman has two detection systems to check resistance or susceptibility to coffee leaf rust and coffee white stem borer.

The coffee white stem borer feeds on the plant and causes yellowing and drying of branches and leaves, DOST said.

Coffee leaf rust, meanwhile, causes wilting and defoliation that can lead to up to 50% crop loss.

The council said that the development can help in rehabilitating devastated coffee farms. 

The project lead said they are coordinating with the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Plant Industry to "formulate quarantine protocols for distributing coffee planting materials." 

"These protocols are crucial for preventing the spread of pests in the coffee industry. Further validation of the protocols will be explored for the development of detection kits," DOST-PCAARRD said.

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