Fortunately, the same level of infection hasn't been seen in the past centuries. And scientists are working hard so that the world will never experience it anytime in the near future.



On of the more notable coffee diseases is the coffee leaf rust. The disease had a very devastating effect on the coffee crops in Brazil in the 1970s. The disease can be traced back to Sri Lanka and Ethiopia coffee plantations. The disease first appeared in the annals of science sometime in 1860s.

The disease can be easily spread by the rain and wind. The pores underneath the plant are the main sources where the disease is being transferred from one plant to another. Coffee rust is preventable.

One way is by spraying copper-based fungicides. The ideal proportions that one can use are 3-5 kg per hectare. Frequency of applying the fungicides should be at 4-6 week intervals during the rainy season.

Another notable disease is the coffee berry disease. This was discovered in Kenya in the 1920s. It is a fungus infection that attacks the coffee berries. A strain of Colletotrichum coffeanum will grow in the bark of a coffee plant.

As it develops, the pores it creates are the one's susceptible to attacks. Just like coffee rust, the best way to prevent coffee berry disease is to spray the plants with copper-based fungicides.

Although insecticides, fungicides or pesticides appear to be the most efficient means to drive out or prevent the coffee plant from getting sick.

Too much reliance on inorganic forms of insecticides can lead to disasters as well. I'm certain there are other ways, to limit the disastrous effects of these diseases on coffee plantations.

Other more common coffee diseases include bacterial blight and nematodes. Bacterial blight, otherwise known scientifically as Pseudomanas syringae pv. Garcae is a disease that is more prevalent during the wet and cold seasons.

On the other hand, nematodes like Meloidogyne exigua, M. incognita, M. coffeicola, Pratylenchus brachyurus, and P. coffeae causes the more common coffee root-knots. Some farmers chose to shift into robusta varieties since the latter variety is more resistant to these kinds of diseases.

Leaf Miner or Perileucoptera cofeella is another coffee disease. However, this one is more exclusive and more common in Brazil.