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Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Mini Fact Sheet Edition

Coffee thread blight (199)

Photo 1. White thread-like strands of the fungus, Pellicularia koleroga, on the underside of coffee leaves.

Photo 2. Threads of the fungus, Pellicularia koleroga, attached to the leaves of coffee (centre) having killed the leaves.

Summary

Worldwide. In the tropics. On coffee, black pepper, capsicum, citrus, mahogany, tea. Sometimes an important and destructive disease.
Mats of fungus, white at first, on underside of leaves and twigs. Leave blacken, die and fall or held in place by dark threads. Dieback may occur.
Cultural control: prune branches 30 cm below the affected part, and burn cuttings; reduce shade levels.
Chemical control: if needed use copper.

Common Name

Thread blight, koleroga disease, black rot.

Scientific Name

Pellicularia koleroga. The fungus is also known as Corticium koleroga, which is the name of the sexual state of the fungus. The name Pellicularia koleroga probably includes a number of species.

AUTHOR Grahame Jackson
Photos 1&2 Kohler F, Pellegrin F, Jackson G, McKenzie E (1997) Diseases of cultivated crops in Pacific Island countries. South Pacific Commission. Pirie Printers Pty Limited, Canberra, Australia.

Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project PC/2010/090: Strengthening integrated crop management research in the Pacific Islands in support of sustainable intensification of high-value crop production, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

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