Plant viral diseases constitute a major contributor to agricultural production losses, significantly impacting the economies of exporting countries by more than USD 30 billion annually. Understanding and researching the biology and genomics of viruses is crucial for developing virus-resistant genetically edited or genetically modified plants. Genetic modifications can be targeted to specific regions within genes of target plants which are important or essential for the virus to establish a systemic infection, thus fostering resistance or enabling plants to effectively respond to invading agents while preserving their yield. This review provides an overview of viral incidence and diversity in tropical fruit crops and aims to examine the current state of the knowledge on recent research efforts aimed at reducing or eliminating the damage caused by viral diseases, with emphasis on genetically edited products that have reached the market in recent years.

The Coffea canephora market has grown significantly, driven by its economic relevance and improvements in beverage quality. Developing varieties adapted to local edaphoclimatic conditions is essential for supporting smallholder farmers, increasing productivity, and ensuring quality in the face of environmental challenges. This study evaluated 27 genotypes under two irrigation regimes using a split-plot design in a completely randomized block arrangement, with four replicates and three plants per plot. Growth and yield parameters were assessed. Genotypes 102, 103, 105, 106, 202, 209, 301, 303, and 305 showed significantly higher yields under full irrigation—up to 60% greater than under minimal irrigation—demonstrating strong responsiveness to water availability. In contrast, genotypes 203 and 206 performed better under minimal irrigation, with 29% higher yields, suggesting lower water requirements or greater drought tolerance. These findings highlight the potential for selecting genotypes suited to transitional altitudes that can benefit from targeted irrigation strategies. The combined use of irrigation and altitude-specific cultivation represents a viable and necessary approach to maximizing genetic potential, optimizing water use, and enhancing the sustainability of C. canephora cultivation in regions facing climate variability.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the nutrient cycling and biomass input of arabica coffee plants managed with a programmed pruning cycle and potassium fertilization. The experiment was carried out in a split-plot arrangement, with four doses of K in the plot, and nine periods of evaluation in the subplot. A randomized complete block design with four replicates was applied. Significance was observed as a function of days after pruning, reaching 78.5% of the decomposed leaf material at 324 days. The release of nutrients showed a variable behavior. At 360 days of evaluation, the percentages of releases nutrients were: 97.2, 79.1, 73.7, 68.0, 48.6, and 32.5, for K, P, Mg, Mn, N, and Ca, respectively. Potassium fertilization levels do not influence the decomposition rate of the leaves eliminated by the programmed pruning cycle in arabica coffee.

Recurrent intrapopulation selection is a key approach for the plant breeding of Coffea canephora, enabling the development of progenies superior to their parents while preserving genetic variability. This study was conducted in Espírito Santo, a major Conilon coffee production hub in Brazil, across two environments with contrasting soil and climatic conditions. This study to evaluated the agronomic performance, selection gains, and genetic divergence of 56 hybrid progenies from a late-maturing population, along with six parental plants. Genetic parameter estimates confirmed the presence of genetic variability and selection potential among the genotypes. Using Mulamba and Mock and Additive selection indices, 16 promising progenies were identified for the development of new cultivars. The strategy proved effective in recommending high-yielding genotypes adapted to each environment, highlighting its importance for sustainable cultivation under diverse edaphoclimatic conditions.