Coffee Diseases and Pests
Sources: Manual de producción de insumos orgánicos by MAOES (2022)
The following diseases and pests are the primary threats to coffee crops in El Salvador. Organic Pest Control inputs from the MAOES Organic Inputs Manual cover all of them explicitly. (source: MAOES ∙ Manual de producción de insumos orgánicos.pdf)
Roya (Coffee Leaf Rust)
Cause: Fungus Hemileia vastatrix.
One of the most damaging coffee diseases globally and a major threat in El Salvador’s coffee regions including Apaneca-Ilamatepec.
Organic controls:
- Caldo Bordelés: copper sulfate + hydrated lime — apply before and after flowering
- Caldo Sulfocálcico: sulfur + hydrated lime
- Caldo Visosa: explicitly noted as “excellent for protecting coffee against roya”
Broca (Coffee Berry Borer)
Cause: Beetle Hypothenemus hampei.
Bores into coffee cherries and deposits eggs, destroying the bean. One of the most economically damaging coffee pests.
Organic controls:
- Insecticida Apichi (garlic-pepper-chile): explicitly noted as “excellent for the control of broca del café”
- Caldo Sulfocálcico: also targets broca eggs and larvae
Ojo de Gallo
Cause: Fungus Mycena citricolor.
Forms circular lesions on coffee leaves. Common in high-humidity, shade-grown environments.
Organic controls:
Antracnosis (Anthracnose)
Cause: Fungus Colletotrichum spp.
Affects coffee fruits, causing dark sunken lesions.
Organic controls:
Mal de Hilachas
Cause: Fungus Koleroga noxia.
Forms thread-like fungal strands on branches in humid conditions.
Organic controls:
Mal Rosado (Pink Disease)
Cause: Fungus Erythricium salmonicolor.
Forms a pink crust on coffee branches.
Organic controls:
Mancha de Hierro (Iron Spot)
Cause: Fungus Cercospora coffeicola.
Brown circular spots on coffee leaves and berries, linked to nutritional stress.
Organic controls:
Summary: Controls by Disease
| Disease/Pest | Bordelés | Sulfocálcico | Visosa | Apichi | M5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roya | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Broca | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Ojo de gallo | ✓ | ||||
| Antracnosis | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Mal de hilachas | ✓ | ||||
| Mal rosado | ✓ | ||||
| Mancha de hierro | ✓ | ||||
| General pests/mites | ✓ | ✓ |