Riyadh – Qahwa World
The National Center for the Prevention of Plant Pests and Animal Diseases and their Control (WEQAA) has announced the detection of the “Coffee Rust” pest in the Jazan region. The Center confirmed that this disease is being recorded for the first time inside the Kingdom after its discovery in the southeastern governorates, posing a new challenge to local agricultural production.
Coffee rust is considered a recent disease in the Kingdom, having appeared in the Jazan region. It is also an invasive disease present in neighboring and African countries, and it primarily targets coffee trees as its sole host.
Conditions for Spread and Symptom Identification
The Center clarified that the fungus causing the disease finds an ideal environment for growth in weather conditions that combine moderate temperatures and high relative humidity. This aligns with the climate of some agricultural sites in the region currently, necessitating the raising of field preparedness levels.
WEQAA identified initial signs that enable farmers to detect the infection early. These begin with the appearance of small, pale yellow spots on the upper surfaces of the leaves, which are quickly followed by dusty, orange pustules on the lower side. Experts warned that the escalation of the condition without intervention leads to the drying of the spot centers and their conversion into tissue necrosis, which generally weakens the tree and critically damages its economic productivity.
Transmission Routes and Preventive Measures
In a related context, the Center pointed out that the infection of this epidemic is transmitted through multiple routes, including: wind-borne spores, migrating insects, and the planting of infected seedlings from nurseries. Furthermore, dense cultivation and contact between infected and healthy coffee trees play a major role in accelerating the pace of spread.
WEQAA stressed that the first line of defense lies in considering sound and reliable agricultural practices as the lifeline for the crop. It directed urgent calls to farmers to adhere to the following:
Acquisition of Seedlings: Do not purchase seedlings except from reliable and trusted nurseries to ensure they are free of infection.
Pruning and Cleaning: The necessity of good pruning of trees to reduce shade and excessive humidity, along with the importance of cleaning fields of weeds that may serve as a bridge for the pest.
The Center concluded its directives by stressing the need to resort to chemical control programs only when absolutely necessary, provided it is under specialized technical supervision to ensure control over the pest and protect the future of Saudi coffee.
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