Biology, Dispersal and Management of Coffee Berry Disease: A Review

Abstract

Colletotrichum spp. are the most important plant pathogenic fungi affecting tissues of leaves, flowers, fruit, stems and crown parts of different crops. They are predominantly found in tropical and subtropical rejoins of humid and sub-humid areas. From these, coffee berry disease (CBD) caused by the fungus Colletotrichum kahawae which is one of the predominant challenges in coffee production. Hence, this review is valuable in providing better insights into the extent spread, and biology of CBD pathogen from different findings and helpful for the selection of better management strategies for this disease. The slow growth form of C. kahawae is varied metabolically by its inability to use either citrate or titrate as a sole carbon source, and conidial production, dispersion and germination takes place in the presence of moisture. Also, the conidia from mummified berries and twig barks disseminated by rain splashes are the primary inoculums sources. Also, spore movement is down ward in tree canopies with the guide of water movement. Passive vectors that can carry viable spores like man, insects, vehicles and birds assist long distance movement, and free movement of coffee planting materials from CBD infected origin fasten frequent distribution of the disease. In spite of little attention received at the early stage of its emergence, African coffee growers soon observed a rapid dissemination throughout important Arabica coffee growing areas which causes 75% losses in Kenya within short time of its appearance. Moreover the impact due to this disease can cause100% losses in the area where effective management options like cultural practices, host plant resistance, biological control and chemical control are not applied.  So, in order to improve the income gained from coffee sector especially in the areas where it highly produced and offer as essential economic source like Ethiopia needs great emphasis of disease diagnosis as well.

Keywords: Coffea arabica, Disease management, Disease symptoms, Epidemiology, Life cycle

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/10-20-03

Publication date:October 31^st 2020