The use of phosphate-solubilizing fungi in coffee cultivation is an alternative to the use of traditional fertilizers. The objective of this study was to analyze the mechanisms involved in the phosphorus solubilization of fungal strains and to evaluate the effect of a phosphate-solubilizing strain on coffee plants. For this, phosphorus-solubilizing fungal strains were selected for evaluation of their solubilization potential and phosphatase activity. Coffee plants were inoculated in the field with a phosphate-solubilizing strain, and the soil and foliar soluble phosphorus contents, as well as coffee bean yield, were quantified. Of the 151 strains analyzed, Sagenomella diversispora, Penicillium waksmanii, and Penicillium brevicompactum showed the highest solubilization. Aspergillus niger and P. waksmanii presented the highest soluble phosphorus values; however, P. brevicompactum showed the highest phosphatase activity. The P. brevicompactum strain inoculated on the coffee plants did not favor the foliar phosphorus content but increased the soil soluble phosphorus content in two of the coffee plantations. The plants inoculated with the phosphate-solubilizing strain showed an increase in coffee bean weight on all plantations, although this increase was only significant in two of the three selected coffee plantations.

Phosphorus-solubilizing fungi represent a viable alternative to traditional fertilizers for use in coffee cultivation. The aim of this work was to select fungal consortia with a high phosphorus-solubilizing capacity for application to three varieties of coffee plants under greenhouse conditions. The research comprised three phases: Firstly, solubilizing strains were identified morphologically and molecularly. Secondly, compatibility tests were carried out to select combinations of phosphorus-solubilizing fungi. The selection of the consortia was evaluated based on their phosphorus-solubilizing capacity, and the consortia with the solubilizing activity were chosen for application to coffee plants. In the greenhouse phase, three coffee varieties were inoculated; the treatments involved single, dual, and triple inoculation, as well as a control without fungi. Five species were identified: Fusarium crassum, F. irregulare, Leptobacillium leptobactrum, Penicillium brevicompactum, and Trichoderma spirale, plus one strain of Absidia sp. The in vitro phase of the study revealed that 11 consortia demonstrated compatibility, and their phosphorus solubilization capacity and phosphatase activity were evaluated. As a result, four consortia with high phosphorus solubilization capacity were selected for inoculation on coffee plants. The greenhouse phase results showed that the three coffee varieties inoculated in consortia showed higher phosphorus availability in the substrate and significant growth.

Coffee cultivation facilitates foreign trade, which is important to the Mexican economy, particularly to the coffee growers of Jilotepec, Veracruz. However, in this region, the soil in which the coffee plants are grown is acidic and has low nutrient availability, making plants susceptible to pests and diseases. In this context, the use of mycorrhizal fungi has gained importance, due to the benefits that they provide in terms of the transport of nutrients and the development of plants, contributing to a reduction in the use of chemical fertilizers. This work aimed to determine the dominant Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the soil of coffee farms and evaluate the potential of sorghum as a trap plant for these organisms. As a result, ten morphotypes of AMF were detected in the coffee soil, with Glomus and Acaulospora being the dominant genera. It was found that their presence was related to the pH, clay, organic matter, and total carbon of the soil from the farms. The abundance of spores increased significantly (p < 0.05) between the initial count in the soil and the final count after propagation in the sorghum trap plants. The characteristic structures of mycorrhizal colonization and a high percentage of mycorrhizal colonization of the roots of the trap plants (Sorghum vulgare) were observed at 120 days after sowing. It is concluded that Glomus sp1, Glomus sp2, Glomus sp3, Glomus sp4, Rhizophagus clarus, and Acaulospora scrobiculata are the dominant morphotypes in the considered coffee plantation soils and that sorghum has high potential for favoring the propagation of native AMF through increasing their abundance and favoring high mycorrhizal colonization.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are soil microorganisms that provide various benefits, such as increasing soil fertility and enhancing plant growth. The present study aimed to propagate arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal spores in trap plants. Soil sampling was carried out in October 2021 on five coffee farms in the central area of Veracruz, Mexico. Soil from coffee plantations and sterile sand were mixed in pots and used for the propagation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and Sorghum vulgare was used as a trap plant. The plants were kept in a greenhouse for 120 days. The abundance of spores in the sorghum trap plants increased significantly (p

The use of phosphate-solubilizing fungi in coffee cultivation is an alternative with which to reduce the use of fertilizers. The objective of this study was to analyze the mechanisms involved in the phosphorus solubilization of the fungal strains and to evaluate the effect of a phosphate-solubilizing strain on the coffee plants. For this, phosphorus-solubilizing fungal strains were selected for evaluation of their solubilization potential and phosphatase activity. Coffee plants were inoculated in the field with a phosphate solubilizing strain, and soil and foliar soluble phosphorus, as well as coffee bean yield, were quantified. Of the 151 strains analyzed, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium waksmanii, and Penicillium brevicompactum showed the highest solubilization. Aspergillus niger and P. waksmanii presented the highest soluble phosphorus values; however, P. brevicompactum showed the highest phosphatase activity. The P. brevicompactum strain inoculated on the coffee plants did not favor foliar phosphorus content but increased the soil soluble phosphorus content in two of the coffee plantations. The plants inoculated with the phosphate solubilizing strain showed an increase in coffee bean weight on all plantations, although this increase was only significant in two of the three selected coffee plantations.

Shade coffee agroecosystems are recognized as biodiversity-friendly systems that make an important contribution to biodiversity conservation in tropical landscapes. This study synthesized the scientific evidence on biodiversity associated with Mexican coffee agroecosystems through a systematic review of literature published between 1990 and 2026. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, searches in ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Web of Science, Scopus, and SciELO yielded 1424 records, of which 126 met the inclusion criteria. The selected studies were further classified according to research axes, methodological approaches, production-system comparisons, and ecosystem functions. Research efforts were strongly concentrated in Veracruz and Chiapas, while several coffee-producing regions remained poorly represented. Arthropods were the most studied group, followed by plants and trees, while mammals and birds were equally represented; fungi and herpetofauna received comparatively less attention. Scientific output increased compared with the early years of the study period but showed considerable temporal variation, particularly during the most recent decade. Despite these advances, relevant geographic and taxonomic gaps persist, particularly for fungi, soil microorganisms, and herpetofauna. The evidence indicates that shade coffee agroecosystems serve as valuable reservoirs of biodiversity and support ecosystem services, ecological connectivity, and landscape conservation. Future studies should focus on underrepresented regions and taxa and incorporate functional diversity, ecological interactions, and landscape-scale approaches to strengthen biodiversity conservation and sustainable management in Mexican coffee-growing landscapes.