Coffee berry disease

The causal agent of Coffee Berry Disease (CBD) is the fungal pathogen Colletotrichum coffeanum, which is classified as a highly aggressive threat to global coffee production. This fungus causes significant damage to plant tissues, leading to severe yield losses that can reach up to 80% in susceptible cultivars.

The disease primarily attacks Coffea arabica. It affects various parts of the coffee plant, including twigs, leaves, and flowers, but is most notorious for its devastating impact on coffee cherries. The pathogen infects the berries at various stages of maturation, ranging from the green pinhead stage to the ripening phase.

Symptoms begin as small, dark, water-soaked lesions on the green berries, which eventually expand into sunken black necrotic patches. Under humid conditions, these lesions produce abundant masses of spores. Infected flowers often blacken and die, while ripening berries may wither and turn into mummified structures known as scabs.

Development and spread of the disease are heavily dependent on environmental conditions, specifically temperature and moisture. Optimal infection occurs between 18°C and 25°C, with high humidity and frequent rainfall. Rain splashes are the primary mechanism for dispersing fungal spores from infected to healthy plant parts.

Effective management requires an integrated approach to disease control. Cultural practices, such as pruning to improve canopy aeration and removing infected crop residue, are essential. Furthermore, the application of copper-based fungicides during critical weather conditions is the standard practice for protecting coffee trees and ensuring sustainable yields.