Diseases of coffee with particular reference to those affecting stems and roots in Colombia

Abstract

Coffee trees belong to the botanical genus Coffea (family Rubiaceae). Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica) originated in Ethiopia and was first cultivated in Yemen in the 15th century. Arabica coffee was introduced to the Asian and American continents during the 17th and 18th century respectively. Today, this species accounts for 70% of the world coffee production, with C.canephora (robusta) constituting ~30% of the production. Coffee has contributed significantly to the economic and cultural development of the countries where it is grown. In 2013, the exporting countries produced approximately 8.5 million metric tonnes (MMT) of green coffee beans, with Brazil, Vietnam, Indonesia and Colombia as the main producers. Significant research programs have focused on providing high-yielding C. arabica cultivars with resistance to pests and diseases, drought, low temperatures and acidic soils. In Colombia, coffee is grown on 915 793 hectares, sustained by approximately 563 000 Colombian coffee growing families. Colombia exported 0.7 MMT of coffee in 2013, worth approximately USD 3 500 000 000. Coffee production has been significantly threatened by leaf rust caused by the fungus Hemileia vastatrix, which is present in all coffee growing countries globally, and results in substantial economic losses. In Colombia two groups of soil borne pathogens, Rosellinia species that cause root rot diseases, and Ceratocystis species which causes canker (“llaga macana”) disease, also reduce productivity. This review presents a summary of knowledge regarding coffee species, their economic importance, breeding of coffee to improve production and details of the latter two diseases, primarily in Colombia.