Effect of reduced light and rainshelter on Coffee Berry Disease due to Colletotrichum kahawae

Arabica coffee production in Africa is strongly threatened by the attacks of Colletotrichum kahawae, the pathogen of Coffee Berry Disease (CBD) which can cause up to 80% harvest losses (Masaba et al., 1992; Waller et al., 1994). The traditional control of this disease requires 8 to 12 annual applications of fungicide in high-altitude areas (> 1600m) where the disease incidence is high (Bieysse et al., 2002). However, pruning of the coffee-trees and association with fruit trees, generally practised in the small farms, could reduce CBD's epidemics (Mouen Bedimo et al., 2007).