Important Diseases of Coffee (Coffee Arabica L.) and Their Management

Abstract

There are many species of coffee. Two important commercially grown species of coffee are: Coffea arabica, which produces Arabica coffee, and Coffea canephora, which produces Robusta coffee. Arabica covers about 60% of the world’s coffee production, because of its higher quality, and can fetch much more in the market than Robusta. Warm and humid equatorial climates are better suited for Robusta coffee. It is generally more resistant to biotic and abiotic stress conditions than Arabica. Deep, free-draining, loamy soils, with a good water-holding capacity and a slightly acid soils (pH 5-6) are best suited for the growth of both the species. Soil fertility is important for good production. Coffea is a genus of flowering plants whose seeds, called coffee beans, are used to make various coffee beverages and products. Coffee plants can suffer from attacks by various diseases and they can affect quality, yield, and cost of coffee beans.