Due to an unusual increase in rainfall and hours of dew on coffee trees in the last three weeks, rust is a growing threat in all coffe areas of the country.
The risk is high in farms or lots with susceptible varieties where the 50-60 day protection period, offered by systemic fungicides for chemical control, has ended, as stated by Miguel Barquero, coordinator of the Phytoprotection Program of the Costa Rican Coffee Institute (ICAFE).
The Institute recommends extending the protection period with systemic fungicides, especially in growing or high-productive, potential plants.
The change in the usual pattern of rains will increase the disease instead of decreasing as it typically happens from December. This situation also coincides with the moment when the protection of the systemic fungicides is ending, increasing the risk of new infections in coffee trees, especially in the young leaves of the plant.
In this situation, it is suggested to increase the observation of coffee plantations to detect the presence of active rust, especially in the upper stratum of the plant and to follow ICAFE recommendations.