0
Home
News
Directory
E-newsletter
Magazine
Events
Data
AgReport
Subscribe
Rare mutation of rust attacks Honduran coffee plantations
Mar. 14, 2017
Coffee rust is one of the most catastrophic plant diseases and comes within the seven pest and plant diseases that have left behind the greatest losses in the last 100 years.
It is caused by the fungus (Hemileia vastatrix) and is the main high-impact phytosanitary problem for coffee. Losses in Latin America are estimated at 30 percent of the harvest. The socio-economic impact of an epidemic of coffee rust in Latin America is quite significant.
The disease which affects coffee plants sees a premature fall of infected leaves reducing yield by nearly 50 percent. Among the main symptoms of the plague are yellow spots and what look like burn marks. They form on the leaves of the coffee plant, causing the foliage to wither until the tree resembles a skeleton. The greater the number of diseased leaves, the greater the impact on production.
Arabica accounts for almost all production in Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, and Panama, and is exported to other regions.
The fungus, which weakens plants and causes coffee leaves to fall before ripening has affected crops in the past.
The dry season and altitude usually kills off the fungus. Plants growing at heights of more than 1,000 meters used to be safe but the fungus has mutated in the past years and is now aggressive even above this distance.
After discovering that a rare mutation of rust is affecting coffee crops in several areas of the country, authorities of the Honduran Coffee Institute (Ihcafé) are on alert.
Experts are conducting research to measure the level of affectation in the areas where the coffee is grown. It is estimated that the disease could affect six percent of the national coffee plantation in six producing areas of the country.
Authorities explained that they have been following up to elicit more information about the outbreak, in the Olancho region. They are also monitoring other departments to quantify the incidence of the disease.
Source: AgroNews
More from AgroNews
Change
Hot TopicSubscribe
| Subscribe Email: | * | |
| Name: | ||
| Mobile Number: | ||
Comment
0/1200
NEWSLETTER