Coffee Pests and Diseases - What You Need to Know

Cultivating coffee plants is a thrilling endeavor that is sure to start a conversation. Aside from its stimulant properties, the plant is so aesthetically pleasing that it is often cultivated for its decoration value in garden settings and as a decoration for indoors. This plant has shiny, deep green foliage and bunches of white blossoms that smell like jasmine. The flowers are only there for a short time, after which they are replaced with vibrant scarlet, berry-like fruits.

It’s unlikely that one tree alone will be responsible for providing you with enough coffee beans for one full pot. Nevertheless, they can be cooked, included in dishes, and even converted into compost for coffee grounds. The advantages of cultivating your own coffee beans are virtually endless.

All About Coffee Tree

You might be taken aback to discover that coffee beans are not “beans” in any sense of the word – they are actually seeds! The seeds of coffee beans develop within striking scarlet berries, generally known as coffee cherries. You can eat the berry, but it doesn’t have anything close to the same value as the stimulating substance within it.

Coffee plants are commonly known as trees, but they actually have a shrub-like growth pattern. The flowers start to appear in the months of May and June, and it is from September to March (depending on where it is grown) that they can be gathered. For the most part, only one crop is harvested yearly and it lasts from two to three months.

Coffee plants originated in tropical Africa and are still cultivated there on a commercial basis. In the United States, it can thrive in outdoor temperatures ranging between 10 and 11 on the zone scale. In areas with cooler climates, it is capable of flourishing as an indoor plant. You can bring it along with you on summer outings.

Coffee is not only responsible for sustaining alertness to millions, but there are also 100 million people employed in the coffee cultivation industry worldwide. Coffee is a vital part of Ethiopia’s economy. It is tremendously significant for agriculture in Latin America and Africa. This beverage is extremely well-received by consumers all over the world, with it coming in second place after tea in terms of popularity.

Sadly, a majority of coffee species are in jeopardy, specifically Coffea arabica which is the most widely consumed. The repercussions of climate change, deforestation, and the proliferation of pests and diseases are bringing about this current situation. Some species are possibly already extinct.

Types of Coffee Plants

It is estimated that there are 124 distinct types of coffee, however only two are used to make the coffee we drink on a daily basis – Arabica and Robusta.

Arabica coffee beans are the most in demand and of the highest quality for making a beverage. This ingredient can be found in a majority of coffees, in addition to its sweet flavoring being used in desserts and different beverages. The probability is that the tin of traditional roasting in your larder is Arabica coffee.

Original cultivation for Coffea arabica first began in Ethiopia, however, for more than a millennium, it has been grown in Arabia. It can reach a height of 20 feet when allowed to fully grow, however it can easily be kept to around 6 feet for interior spaces. This plant is self-pollinating and produces large, elliptical-shaped seeds.

Coffea canephora var. Robusta is like the off-brand version of Arabica. It’s much cheaper but much more bitter. The production of this variety is much more cost efficient, making it a preferable option. A tree can reach a maximum height of 40 feet in its natural state and prefers milder climates than what Coffea arabica requires. The small, round seeds require cross-fertilization to grow.

Arabica coffee beans contain significantly less caffeine than Robusta types. Caffeine has been around as a protective measure against bugs, making the plant highly resistant to insect infestations. Unfortunately, the same factor that is responsible for providing the coffee bean with its energizing properties is also the one that causes it to taste unpleasant, which explains why this particular variety isn’t as much in demand. It is regularly employed in instant coffee, espresso, or as part of a combination in mixtures.

Planting Coffee

Successful outcomes require effort and coffee is no different. The cultivation of coffee is a complicated procedure, however the final outcome is a gorgeous plant.

When To Plant

Coffee plants have a period of growth from April to August. We suggest putting seedlings in the ground a bit before the current season so they have an opportunity to become established.

It can be difficult to come across coffee plant seedlings or seeds in stores, so it’s a possibility that you might need to purchase them online. Allow yourself a considerable amount of time to purchase the necessary items before you begin planting.

Where To Plant

Those who reside in areas with tropical climates or in zones 10-11 can plant this tree outdoors. Begin cultivating the seeds inside and afterwards move them to their final location once they have strong roots. Plant starts can go directly in the ground.

Take into account that these are big bushes that consume a great deal of height. Put them at a distance of at least 3 feet from neighboring plants. Select a location that has partial shadow for most of the day, particularly in the afternoon.

You will have to allocate some space since indoor plants can reach heights of between 4 and 6 feet. They’ll love sunrooms but also thrive in sunny windows. Give your plant a taste of the great outdoors during the summertime, but keep it in the shade!

How To Plant

When getting coffee plant seedlings, there may be more than one per container. You need to saturate the earth and carefully split the vegetation apart. Once they have been divided, put each one in its own container or location in the garden. Employ soil that is both abundant with nutrients and adept at draining water, and keep it regularly damp while the seedlings are becoming established. Feed the plant 3 to 4 times in the early years of its life. Each spring, size up the pot if needed. Ensure that the pot is proportionate to the size of the tree, as an excessive amount of unoccupied soil will only hold water and suffocate the roots. It is expected for the coffee plant you have obtained to begin blossoming within a three to five year period.

Growing Problems

It is paramount to keep an eye on the level of humidity when cultivating and planting coffee as it plays an essential role. If the outer edges of the leaves start to appear a shade of brown and seem to be getting brittle, they are most likely in need of more water. Put the container on a drip tray that is on a rock or shift it from the area near any heating vents. It is advisable to maintain a humid climate in the room initially to ensure that any harm done might not be irreversible. If the brown color begins to show up in places other than just the leaf tips, your plant might be suffering from sunburn. Immediately move it away from direct sun and heat. Additionally, make sure the plant is getting enough H2O, because the heat can make it dry out swiftly.

COMMON COFFEE PESTS AND DISEASES

Coffee growers have been dealing with the issue of pests and illness for centuries. Vegetation detrimentally impacted by various issues can become less efficient, produce coffee of a poorer quality, or perish completely.

This subsequently results in additional costs for the manufacturer. Decreased productivity results in lower profits for the producer and diminished quality being produced. Besides this, replacement plantings and the purchase of plant food, bug spray, or mildew removers all cost extra.

Although there are multiple insects and illnesses that have various effects on coffee plants, some are more widespread than the rest. Let us examine some of the most frequent.

Coffee leaf rust

One of the major problems coffee farmers grapple with on a global scale is the onset of coffee leaf rust, also referred to as la roya in Spanish.

The fungus called Hemileia vastatrix is the cause of the airborne sickness referred to as coffee leaf rust. The leaves on the bottom of the plant have an orange-colored, powdery substance that is evidence of an infection.

In the long run, it hinders the coffee plant from being capable of photosynthesizing. This hinders the tree from producing energy, thus causing it to become weak and precluding the cherries from attaining full maturity and ripening. This leads to coffee beans that are less dense, a decline in productivity, and unpleasant tastes.

In 2012, a destructive outbreak of leaf rust occurred in nations throughout Latin America and the Caribbean that grow coffee. It was approximated that this resulted in more than a billion dollars of damage within a two year span.

World Coffee Research found that after only five years, the disease had a large impact on around 70 percent of coffee plantations in Central America. As a result of this, 1.7 million people working on coffee farms were laid off, causing a total of US $3.2 billion in losses and lost wages.

Pablo mentioned that the historically admired Arabica varieties, e.g. Typica, Bourbon, Mundo Novo, and Caturra, are especially vulnerable to fungus. He mentioned that lately, some farmers in Central America have started cultivating strains that are invulnerable to rust, for instance Marsellesa, Costa Rica 95, and Anacafe 14.

Coffee wilt disease

Tracheomycosis is a coffee wilt disease that is generated by the Fusarium xylarioides fungus. It stops the flow of liquid and nutrients throughout the plant, which leads to the shedding of leaves, the demise of branches, and premature fruit ripening, until ultimately, the whole plant succumbs. It is impossible to survive once the virus has infected someone, so the most effective way to be safe is to make sure one avoids infection in the first place.

This plant was initially identified in 1927 in the Central African Republic, and its presence is felt in the yield of robusta and arabica crops across East and Central Africa.

Coffee berry disease

The Colletotrichum kahawae fungus is the root cause of Coffee berry disease (CBD). The first instance of lesions forming on coffee cherries being identified was in Kenya back in 1922. These lesions stop growth and eventually lead to the cherries rotting and dropping from the branch.

Cherries are most delicate when in their immature, green state and not yet ripe, believed to be sometime between four and 14 weeks following blooming. The lesions on the cherry can be easily spotted via their colour, often being black or brown spots that spread until they cover the fruit completely. Fungicides, usually composed of copper, can be used to stop the transmission of CBD.

Ojo de gallo/American leaf spot

The direct translation of “ojo de gallo” is “rooster’s eye” in English, however it is also sometimes referred to as American leaf spot.

This disorder, which is triggered by the Mycena citricolor fungus, is common throughout Latin America and affects not only coffee plants but also other crops.

Ojo de gallo creates dark, nearly round blemishes on the leaves, stalks, and berries of coffee plants. If you look carefully, you will notice tiny, glowing mushrooms on the leaves. If neglect is not rectified, these foliage will in due course drop, resulting in vegetation growth and production to be hindered.

Coffee berry borer

The coffee berry borer, often called la broca in Spanish, is a small black beetle which only reaches two millimeters in full adulthood. Although small in size, the borer beetle is a major threat to coffee plants. It is present in almost all coffee-producing countries.

These miniature bugs tunnel into coffee beans to deposit their eggs. A major setback for producers is caused by the hole in the coffee bean. The holes in the cherries lead to a degradation of the coffee quality, and can culminate in them dropping off.

It takes the borer beetle roughly a month to go from being in the larval stage to fully matured. This then allows it to multiply, leading to even more issues. Pablo states that the coffee berry borer is able to reproduce in areas where the temperature is warm and the elevation does not exceed 1,200 meters above sea level.

Root nematodes

Miniature parasites known as nematodes are capable of attacking the roots of coffee plants, thereby blocking its access to vital nutrients and water.

The destruction of the leaves results in them turning a color of yellow and wilting, diminishing the progress of plant growth and hindering productivity. In severe cases, it can also cause plant death.

MITIGATING THE IMPACT OF PESTS AND DISEASES

As with many other types of vegetation, coffee plants can be negatively impacted by bugs and illnesses. This has been a tremendous obstacle for farmers everywhere around the globe for ages. An extensive swarm or occurrence of infestation can have a major impact on coffee plants and result in a large monetary deficit for producers.

In addition to replanting, producers can employ fungicides and pesticides to monitor and combat insects and illnesses on the farm. Yet, this may represent a great expense for small-scale farmers.

There are numerous strategies which can be employed naturally to reduce the effects of pests and illnesses.

For example, there is the use of agroecological practices. Include: utilizing small organisms found in mountains, sulfocalcic broth, crushed rocks, decaying organic matter, worms and their waste material, bacteria that produces lactic acid, ash from coffee bean shells and bio-potassium.

However, Angelica notes that every farm is different. She emphasizes that each farm should utilize its own unique farming techniques.

We must ascertain which approaches yield results and which do not, as everyone’s situation is not identical. There are different necessities, varieties, climates, and situations.

A solid foundation for offering technical aid begins with a focus on soil and plant nutrition. Trees will remain robust and healthy if the proportions of nutrients are properly regulated.

Healthy and nutrient-dense soil helps cherries to increase in size and maturity, which leads to enhanced quality and higher selling prices.