Coffee Diseases and Pests: Identification, Prevention & Biological Control

Coffee farming is always threatened by vast array of coffee pests and diseases which may affect health of the plants, harvest and quality of beans significantly. This can be destructive insects including borers, mites and aphids, dangerous fungus and bacteria infections, which can proliferate quickly, given the right conditions such as humidity and bad management of the fields. Otherwise, coffee diseases and pests can undermine the foundation of a plant, decrease cherry growth and cause irreversible loss of productivity in the long term. Also, such complications as coffee bean disease directly influence the cost of the produce in the market, and the efficient management becomes even more important among growers. By going with a mix of biological solutions, preventive measures and integrated pest management measures, farmers can save their harvest and maintain their ecological balance; this avoids the short term coffee farming that may threaten farmers' future production.

 

 

Common Coffee Pests

Coffee Berry Borer	Coffee Leaf Miner	Coffee Leaf Skeletonizer	Coffee Leafhopper	Coffee Red Spider Mite	Coffee Thrips
Coffee Aphids	Coffee Mealybugs	Coffee Green Scale	Antestia Bug	Coffee Cutworms	Coffee Root-knot Nematodes

 

Common Coffee Diseases

Brown Eye Spot	Leaf Spot Disease	Coffee Leaf Rust	Coffee Berry Disease	Coffee Bacterial Blight	Coffee Wilt Disease
Coffee Anthracnose	Coffee Root Rot	Black Rot	Phytophthora Root Rot	Coffee Thread Blight	Coffee Damping Off

 

Coffee Nutrition

Coffee Growth Nitrogen Fixation

Potassium and Silicon Absorbtion

Inorganic Phosphorus for Coffee

Coffee Soil Health

 

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Coffee Bean Pest Control

Target Pests: Coffee Berry Borer 

Active ingredient: Metarhizium anisopliae 

Coffee plantations are also susceptible to the attacks of such devastative pests as the coffee berry borer, which is one of the most harmful insects of the coffee production at the global level. This pest also penetrates into the coffee cherries and eats the beans within causing the farmers to suffer lower output, low quality of beans, and a massive cost to the farmers. In most cases, infestation is not noticed until it is too late as the larvae are developed inside the berries making it difficult to control. The application of biological control agents of Metarhizium anisopliae, coffee pesticides, can be taken as the effective and sustainable system to handle this pest. It is a natural, fungal, entomopathogen, operated by binding its spores to the insect surface, its penetration into the body, and multiplication in the inside, and which eventually kills the coffee diseases and pests. In its proper use, it helps to control the numbers of the coffee berry borer without disrupting the nature of the ecological balance therefore making it an ideal solution to the use of the integrated pest management programs in the coffee farms.

 

 

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Target Pests: Coffee Leaf Miner, Coffee Leaf Skeletonizer, Coffee Leafhopper  

Recommended Product: BT Thuricide

Active ingredient: Bacillus thuringiensis (BT)

Pests that feed on foliage such as coffee leaf miner, coffee leaf skeletonizer and coffee leafhopper normally have an affinity to the coffee crops to cause significant reduction in plant vitality and productivity. These pests cause damages to the leaves by mining the inner tissues, scraping leaves or sucking sap that would later affect the photosynthesis rendering the plant weak. Extensive infestation may result in early shedding of leaves and less growth of a berry. A good and sustainable method of controlling these pests is BT Thuricide which is a biological coffee insecticide made using the Bacillus thuringiensis. This is a natural soil bacteria which produces proteins that are lethal to larval insects that feed on leaves. These proteins destroy the digestive system of the pests upon ingestion halting the feeding mechanism resulting in the pest dying after a few days. Specifically in action Bacillus thuringiensis assists in eliminating insects that harm but not organisms that are beneficial, thus BT Thuricide can be the best choice in management when it comes to sustainable coffee pests.

 

 

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Target Pests: Coffee Red Spider Mite, Coffee Thrips, Coffee Aphids, Coffee Mealybugs, Coffee Green Scale

Recommended Product: Beaveria WP

Active ingredient: Beauveria bassiana

Other sap-sucking pests often destroy coffee plantations, among them are the coffee red spider mites, coffee thrips, coffee aphids, coffee mealybugs and coffee green scale that undermine plants by sucking useful nutrients away from leaves, stems and young shoot markets. Their activity of feeding attracts such symptoms as the curling of leaves, their yellowing, retarded growth, and poor quality of berries. Very many of these pests also produce honeydew which promotes the proliferation of sooty mould which further impedes photosynthesis and overall well-being of the plant. A good new solution applicable in controlling these pests effectively and sustainably is the Beveria WP which is a biological insecticide prepared using the entomopathic fungus, Beauveria bassiana. This is a natural occurring fungus, which infects pests by attaching to the outside parts of the body and penetrating the cuticle and multiplying within the insect leading to its death. As it has a specific mode of action and little effects to positive organisms, Beveria WP is a perfect option to integrated pest management and sustainable long-term coffee production.

 

 

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Target Pests:  Antestia Bug

Recommended Product: Myco Pestop    

Active ingredient: Metarhizium anisopliae 

The Antestia bug is a severe pest in the coffee plantation that has been known to compromise coffee berries, pierce, and feed on coffee by damaging coffee bean pest control leading to coffee bean disease, leading to discoloration of beans and other effects reduce their quality and volume. Not only is this pest making the immature cherries weak but it might also be a cause of secondary infection spreading further into the crop health. An appropriate and viable option concerning the control of this pest is Myco Pestop, coffee pesticides, which is a biological control agent that is developed using the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae. This is a naturally occurring fungi and it functions by lining up its spores to the body of the insect, drilling them inside the outer cuticle and multiplying within the pest which leads to the eventual death of the insect. Myco Pestop encourages sustainable coffee production by killing the pest and not killing useful organisms, though it is a valuable part of a practice-based on integrated pest management.

 

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Target Pests:  Coffee Cutworms, Coffee Shot Hole Borer

Recommended Product: Met Zone    

Active ingredient: Metarhizium anisopliae 

There are pests like coffee cutworms, coffee shot hole borers that are likely to pose threat to coffee crops and could impact negatively on the health and crop production of the plants. Cutworms usually feed on young plants by cutting the stems at the base, causing loss of the plants, improper crop establishment, and by shot holes through stems and branches, interfering with the flow of nutrients and causing weakening of the plant structure. These pests may also greatly decrease the yield and the long-term health of the plantations, especially when they are not controlled. One strategy of managing such pests that is effective and sustainable is Met Zone, a biological product, which has been developed based on entomopathic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae. It is a naturally occurring type of fungi that infects pests through sticking to the outer surface, entering the cuticle and later reproducing within the body of the insect leading to death. Its capacity to survive in the soil and attacking the underground pests has been a particular benefit in combating borers, soil living insects to promote environmentally friendly and combined pest control techniques in coffee farming.

 

 

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Target Pests:  Coffee Cutworms, Coffee Shot Hole Borer

Recommended Product: Nema Pro / Nema ProMax   

Active ingredient: Paecilomyces lilacinus/burkholderia spp. and bacillus pumilus

Examples of microscopic soil pests that attack coffee root systems and create typical galls or knots highly affect coffee plants are coffee root-knot nematodes. Such infestations interfere with the water and nutrient absorption, which causes stunted growth, yellow leaves, poor plant vibrancy, and yield. The nematode damage may also expose the plants to other soil-based diseases since severe damage may render them susceptible. The use of Nema Pro / Nema ProMax is an improved and sustainable measure towards the management of these pests that is being designed using useful microogs that include Paecilomyces lilacinus, Burkholderia spp, and Bacillus pumilus as formulations of the biological nematicides. The mechanism behind these microbes is that they directly feed off of the eggs of nematodes that consequently prevents the population growth of the latter, and they also produce metabolites that prevent the growth of the latter. They can also be used as a workable option in coffee crop production by the fact that they when applied to the soil they can colonize the root zone and provide a protecting environment which allows healthier root systems and enhances the overall resilience of plants, which makes them the best option to be integrated with nematode management.

 

 

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Coffee Leaf Diseases

Target Diseases: Brown Eye Spot, Leaf Spot Disease

Recommended Product: FloraEgis  

Active Ingredient: Trichoderma harzianum   

Popular foliar diseases in coffee crops are brown eye spot disease and leaf spot disease that can be very detrimental to its health and productivity. The diseases are normally noticed to be circular brown most with light centers in the leaves, and are slowly growing to cause early leaf fall. The increase in the infection causes a decrease in the photosynthetic capacity of the plant, general lack of vigor and ultimately affects yield and quality of beans. FloraEgis is a biological organizational fungicide made of Trichoderma harzianum and is the effective and sustainable alternative to dealing with these foliar diseases. The advantage of this type of fungi is that it establishes residence on the leaf surface, which drives off pathogenic fungi because it has space and nutrients, as well as because it produces antifungal compounds that prevent the formation of diseases. Moreover, the Trichoderma harzianum can be used to enhance the natural defense mechanism of the plant and FloraEgis is a good alternative to controlling eco-friendly diseases and prolonged eco-health in the coffee growing activity.

 

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Coffee Diseases Treatment

Target Diseases: Coffee Leaf Rust 

Active Ingredient: Bacillus subtilis

One of the most crippling diseases that impact coffee crops is coffee leaf rust or rust fungi which leaves behind some orange and powdery spots on the lower side of the leaf. With further infection, the plant is prematurely turned into the leaf fall, and the photosynthesis rate is lowered greatly which results in loss of the yields. Wholesale epidemics can undermine complete plants and affect sustainable productivity. One of the sustainable and effective ways of dealing with this disease is through the use of the Bacillus subtilis based biological solutions. This useful bacteria is a natural antagonist of fungal pathogens because of the production of antimicrobial compounds and enzymes, which prevent the development of the rust-causing fungus. As a foliar treatment it forms a layer on the surfaces of the leaves, as well as triggers the natural defenses of the plant, which not only prevents the increase in the spread of diseases but also makes coffee a healthier and more resilient plant.

 

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Target Diseases: Coffee Berry Disease, Coffee Bacterial Blight

Recommended Product: Bactonus      

Active Ingredient: Bacillus safensis, Bacillus velezensis, and Pseudomonas chlororaphis

Some of the severe diseases that normally affect coffee crops include coffee berry disease and coffee bacterial blight which can greatly affect yield and quality of beans. Coffee berry disease is the major pathology that damages in the development of cherries of dark lesions, premature nature shedding of the fruit, and marketable fruit and bacterial blight attacks the leaves and the shoots resulting in water-soaked lesions, tissue necrosis, and overall decrease in the plant. Unless controlled well, these diseases may spread fast in humid environment and undermine the whole plantation. A sustainable solution is the Bactonus, which is a microbial formulation of the useful bacteria, including Bacillus safensis, Bacillus velezensis and Pseudomonas chlororaphis. These microorganisms act by the production of antimicrobial products and enzymes which inhibit pathogen growth in addition to colonizing the surfaces of plants to provide a protective veil. Besides disease control, they also boost the immunity of the plants and promote healthier growth thus Bactonus is a desirable addition in integrated disease management of coffee farming.

 

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Target Diseases: Coffee Wilt Disease, Coffee Anthracnose, Coffee Root Rot, Black Rot, Phytophthora Root Rot, Coffee Thread Blight, Coffee Damping-Off, Coffee Rust Complex 

Recommended Product: HarzShield

Active Ingredient: Trichoderma harzianum

Coffee plantations are very prone to various forms of fungi infections like the coffee wilt disease, coffee anthracnose, coffee root rot, black rot, phytoplankton root rot, coffee thread blight, coffee damping-off and coffee rust complex, which may result in devastating effects in the plants and cause drastic consequences in the productivity of the plants. They are diseases that affect different body parts of the plant i.e. roots, stems, leaves, and berries which lead to wilting, root decay, lesions, defoliation, and poor yield. These pathogens multiply fast under warm and humid climatic conditions and are likely to have long-term effects in case of poor management. A good and long-lasting solution to the control of these diseases is HarzShield, a biological fungicide that contains Trichoderma harzianum. This desirable fungus is effective as it conventionalizes the root zone and the plant surfaces where it competes with the pathogenic fungi, it produces antifungal compounds, and directly parasitizes the disease causing fungi. Besides pathogen inhibitory activity, Trichoderma harzianum improves plant resistance and increases root growth, which is why HarzShield ought to be part and parcel of the disease management in the coffee fields to obtain healthier and more resisting crops.

 

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Coffee Biostimulant Treatment

Purpose: Enhance Coffee Plant Growth with Sustainable Nitrogen Fixation

Recommend Product: Metilo

Active Ingredient: Methylobacterium

Metilo is an organic nitrogen biostimulant, which is meant to maintain healthy growth of coffee plants without excessive reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. It harbors the helpful microorganism Methylobacterium which inhabits the foliar surface and root zone when this is used as either a foliar spray or soil drench. These bacteria in a natural environment transform nitrogen that is available in the air to provide nutrients that are available to the plants, thereby balancing the supply in the environment. This will enhance consistent growth of vegetation, growth of leaves, flowering and development of cherry in the coffee plants. The over application of chemical nitrogen fertilizers tends to increase the development of the soft tissues, and therefore plants become more susceptible to coffee diseases and pests. Metilo is beneficial in ensuring balanced growth and enhancing the population of various microbes in the soil to aid in the long-term growth of coffee.

 

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Purpose: Promote Potassium and Silicon Absorption in Coffee

Active Ingredient: Bacillus mucilaginosus

There is a special biofertilizer which contains Bacillus mucilaginosus which is believed to increase the level of potassium and silicon in the soil where coffee roots are. This useful bacterium produces organic acids and enzymes, which degrade the bound nutrient in the rhizosphere rendering it more available to the plants. Potassium has a significant role to play in the regulation of water, growth performance, enhancement of quality and tolerance to drought in coffee plants. Silicon reinforces the walls of plant cells making them resistant to pests, diseases and environmental stresses. The consistent use in the vegetative and fruiting periods will create a slow release of nutrients, less reliance on artificial potassium fertilizers, and healthier and stronger coffee plants and enhanced productivity.

 

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Purpose:    Improve Phosphorus Uptake in Coffee

Recommended Product: Cropium

Active Ingredient: Penicillium bilaiae

Penicillium bilaiae, a useful fungus that is found in Cropium has the capacity to solubilize the phosphorus that is bound in the soil. This microorganism escapes organic acids which break up insoluble phosphorus compounds and these compounds become available to the roots. Increased phosphorus absorption results in increased root systems, nutrient absorption, flowering, and the optimum development of cherries in coffee plants. It also enhances tolerance to drought and plant vigor. When used in the Cropium in coffee nutrient management programs, Cropium leads to a decrease in the use of chemical phosphate fertilizers and better fertility of soils and productivity in the long term.

 

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Purpose:  Strengthen Soil Health for Sustainable Coffee Farming

Recommended Product:  Soil Vigor

Active Ingredient: Blended microbes including Bacillus and Trichoderma

The blurred introduction of various beneficial micro-organisms in soil Vigor makes coffee plantations more fertile and active. These microorganisms enhance decomposition of organic materials, enhance nutrient cycling and availability. Heathy bacteria and fungi also repress undesirable soil based pathogens by natural competition and synthesis of antimicrobial substances. Better soil structure increases aeration, water retention and root penetration to development of coffee plants in the best environment possible. Soil Vigor enhances soil health, hence limiting the application of chemical fertilizers, and long-term and sustainable coffee production systems.

 

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Coffee Pest and Disease Management

These plants are prone to numerous coffee diseases and pests that may have serious impacts on the health and production of the plants. The important insect pests are coffee berry borers, mealybugs, thrips, aphids, and spider mite that feed on plant tissues thus causing the damage of leaves, stems, and cherries. Also of great concern are the coffee diseases, including the coffee leaf rust,anthracnose,root rot and berry disease, which attacks the leaves, roots, and the development of fruit. This includes the practice of good hygiene, proper trimming, good feeding of the animals, and regulated irrigation practices as effective measures to control this menace.

Sustainable coffee farming is heavily involved with biological control agents for coffee pests disease and their management​. The useful organisms like Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae are extensively utilized in the control of insect pests, whereas Trichoderma species are used in fungal pathogen management. Moreover, harmless bacteria such as Bacillus and Pseudomonas are able to help in the growth and deter disease in plants.

The given biological approach leads to the preservation of good organisms, which minimizes the probability of pesticide resistance, as well as preserving the balance of nature in the coffee plantations. Farmers who have entered into the concept of mixing biostimulants and biological solutions into the coffee pest management systems can grow healthier plants, yield better and advance sound environmental coffee production in the long term.