Fusarium wilt of coffee in India

Sudden wilting of leaves and death of arabica coffee was reported in young clearings and old plantings from seventeen estates in nine liaison districts in South India. Low soil pH, high temperature and moisture stress, exhaustion due to heavy crop, inadequate shade and wounds have been observed to be the pre-disposing factors. Isolations made from infected plants showed Fusarium javanicum Koorders implicated in the disease syndrome, which is a new record on coffee in India. Dadap (Erythrina lithosperma L.) which is grown as a shade-tree in coffee estates serves as a collateral host for the pathogen. Application of lime at one tonne per acre, smearing Bordeaux paste over wounds, proper nutrition to maintain the vigour of the plants and providing adequate shade are some of the practical field control measures suggested