ABSTRACT
Some species of Coffea, such as Cryptotermes bengalensis Heyne and Willd., C. khasiana Hook, C. travancoorensis Wight and Arn., and C. wightiana Wall., are indigenous to India but have no commercial importance though used by some hill tribes. Coffee rust or leaf rust was authentically recorded from India in 1869, although it was seen by coffee planters as early as 1865. Disease progress and severity can be measured in the field from the number of pustules on the infected leaves. Heavy foliage density provides a favorable microclimate for the development of the disease within the leaf canopy. Bordeaux mixture has a broad spectrum of activity against many diseases besides leaf rust. Copper-based fungicides have presented the best results in rust control under field conditions. Addition of copper improves the action of systemics with low residual effect especially when only one application is used at the end of the disease cycle.
