Coffee
Coffee Berry Disease
Colletotrichum kahawae
Fungus
In a Nutshell
- Pinhole at the top of berries.
- Dark sunken lesions on green berries.
- Berries dry out and drop off the tree prematurely.
Can also be found in
Coffee
Symptoms
Dark sunken lesions are formed on the berries, causing their premature mummification and dropping. It also occasionally affects the leaves. The disease affects all stages of plant growth. The infection could start from the flowering stage but symptoms are only seen on the green and ripe berries.
Recommendations
Organic Control
Plant resistant varieties.
Chemical Control
Always consider an integrated approach along with preventive measures and available biological treatments. Apply first spray at the onset of flowering. Protective bi-monthly sprays of copper-containing fungicides can help to control the disease. In case you have not applied preventive treatments, act when initial symptoms begin to appear.
What caused it?
Damage is caused by the fungus Colletotrichum kahawae. It is spread by rain splash, coffee pickers, birds and movement of infected seedlings. It is a serious disease, which can reduce yield up to 80%.
Preventive Measures
- Clean and timely harvesting must be practised.
- Follow recommended spacing specific to the varieties.
- Remove off-season berries and gleanings.
- Prevent the accumulation of standing water to limit the spread of the disease.
- Remove old stems and strip off diseased berries or reduce the sources of the disease.
- Prune coffee trees to increase the flow of air through the foliage.
Share
Download Plantix
