Screening Of Coffee for Resistance to Coffee Berry Disease

Abstract

The disease of coffee berries caused by a form of Colletotrichum coffeanum Noack, has been the subject of a recent investigation in the laboratory (Nutman and Roberts 1960a, 1960b, 1961) and in the field (Bock 1963) and a programme of fungicidal sprays can now be recommended for its control. If the disease is severe, a minimum of five fungicidal sprays per year is necessary for adequate control; since each spray consists of 10 lb. of a 50 per cent copper fungicide in not less than 160 gallons of water per acre, the expense involved is considerable. It was therefore thought valuable to examine possible sources of plant resistance.