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There’s been a lot of talk circulating about the issues being caused and the crops being destroyed by multiple pests and coffee diseases currently. We have the Leaf Rust disease destroying crops in Central America, and the coffee borer beetle killing plants in Hawaii. These aren’t the only two pests/diseases that can seriously harm a coffee crop, though. Unfortunately, there are others that farmers have to keep constant watch for else they experience significant damage to their crops.
Here’s a quick rundown of coffee culprits and their MO’s:
Nematodes
This nasty little parasite will infect a coffee plant and make it appear stunted by blocking primary branches, flowers, and making flowers bloom prematurely. In sever cases the plant dies.
Coffee Borer
This little beetle can cause a whole lot of damage by inserting itself into the coffee plant and making a hole around its discs. The young fruit then falls and greatly reduces the quality of the plant overall.
Leaf Rust Disease
This disease only effects Arabica coffee, while leaving Robusta alone. Once infected, the coffee plant’s leaves will gain dark brown and dry spotting, eventually be deprived of starch, and then die.
Cercospora Leaf Spot Disease
First little yellow spots form when a plant contracts this disease, then those spots turn into brown spots. Decay then spreads to the seeds, thus destroying the quality of the fruit.