Coffee Plant

Coffea spp.

1. Identification and origin

The coffee plant (Coffea spp.) belongs to the Rubiaceae family and includes more than 120 species, of which Coffea arabica L. and Coffea canephora Pierre ex A. Froehner (robusta) are the most widely cultivated. The origin lies in the montane forests of Ethiopia, South Sudan and the African Great Lakes region.

2. Economic importance

Coffee is one of the most traded agricultural commodities in the world, with great economic and social relevance in tropical countries. C. arabica dominates the quality coffee market, while C. canephora is valued for its productivity and resistance. The crop supports millions of smallholders.

3. Botanical characterisation

Evergreen shrubs or small trees, generally between 2 and 5 m tall in cultivation. The leaves are opposite, simple, glossy and dark green in colour. The flowers are white, fragrant and grouped in axillary glomerules. The fruits (cherries) are drupes normally containing two seeds (coffee beans), surrounded by pulp and mucilage.

4. Edaphoclimatic requirements

C. arabica prefers altitudes between 800–2000 m, temperatures of 18–22 °C and partial shade. C. canephora adapts to lower altitudes and higher temperatures (22–30 °C). The crop requires deep, well-drained soils, rich in organic matter and with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. It is sensitive to waterlogging and to sudden variations in moisture.

5. Main pests

• Coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei): perforations in the fruits and loss of quality.
• Scale insects (Coccidae and Pseudococcidae): sap sucking and sooty mould.
• Nematodes (Meloidogyne spp., Pratylenchus spp.): root damage and decline.
• Mites (Tetranychidae): chlorosis and reduction of vigour.

6. Main diseases

• Coffee leaf rust (Hemileia vastatrix): defoliation and reduced productivity.
• Anthracnose (Colletotrichum kahawae): necrosis in fruits and branches.
• Brown eye spot (Cercospora coffeicola): lesions on leaves and fruits.
• Wilt by Fusarium spp.: decline and death of plants.

7. General crop management

Management includes the use of resistant varieties, adequate shading, formation and sanitary pruning, balanced fertilisation and control of soil moisture. Selective harvesting and the removal of dried or fallen fruits reduce pest pressure. Continuous monitoring is essential for early detection of rust and borer.

Bibliographic references

• EPPO Global Database – Coffea spp..
• CABI Crop Compendium – Coffea arabica, Coffea canephora.
• Avelino, J., et al. (2015). The coffee rust crises in Colombia and Central America. Food Security, 7, 303–321.
• Vega, F. E., et al. (2009). The coffee berry borer: a global perspective. In: Vega, F. E. & Hofstetter, R. W. (Eds.), Insect Pests of Coffee.
• Wintgens, J. N. (2004). Coffee: Growing, Processing, Sustainable Production.