Plant Protection Research

Issues

Papua New Guinea is blessed with little pest and disease problems. Insect pests and diseases affecting coffee production are the coffee green scales Coccus celatus and C. viridis, coffee leaf rusts (Hemileia vastatrix) and pink disease (Phanerochaete salmonicolor formerly named as Corticium salmonicolor). The outbreak of coffee leaf rust was recorded in 1987 in the highlands of PNG. Coffee green scale were imported with coffee in early 1950s of which minor outbreaks started to spread only in the 1980s. Through extensive research conducted by scientists attached to the divison, it is now known that most pest and diseases of coffee in PNG is manageable, through implementation of appropriate coffee management practices.

Coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei), a new threat to PNG, is a quarantine pest. It is currently present in Indonesia, at Wamena and Oksibil districts, Papua province. The Government of PNG and Coffee Industry Corporation is well abreast of the threat it poses to the PNG coffee industry and have taken steps to prevent its entry.

Research focus

Research by plant protection section has been focusing on coffee leaf rust, coffee green scale and most recently, the prevention of coffee berry borer.

Coffee Leaf Rust

Epidemiological studies of coffee leaf rus (CLR) carried out in the
past between 1988 and 2000 revealed occurrence of less virulent strains, which causes minor outbreaks under undernourished and neglected coffee farms. Peak incidence of CLR occurs between
October and January annually following the onset of North Easterly monsoonal rains. It can be controlled using appropriate pruning techniques and with Copper fungicides.

Coffee Green Scale

Biological control using Metaphycus baruensis from Kenya was
released in early 1990 to control coffee green scale. Its impact is
limited in the field mainly affected by lack of knowledge on coffee
green scale and the parasitoid that causes it. Research on coffee
green scale focuses on the use of integrated pest management
(IPM) technologies as a strategy for long-term management.

Coffee Berry Borer

Most serious pest of coffee affecting production in most countries.
It is not present in PNG. The Government is supporting an initiative
from the CIC to prevent it from entering the country. Preventative action programs include awareness and literacy, monitoring and surveillance, emergency response planning and forging partnerships with international research institutions.

 

 

Updated: May 17, 2010