Photo courtesy Salvador Urritea / World Coffee Research
Leaf Rust Hits Lempira Plant
Rust infected Lempira coffee leaf
HONDURAS
Lempira, a dominant coffee variety in Honduras, is no longer resistant to coffee leaf rust, according to the non-profit World Coffee Research. The organization announced the finding May 12.
Lempira was planted across Honduras beginning in 2012 following a leaf rust epidemic because the variety was resistant to the disease. That’s no longer true, researchers reported.
Instituto Hondureño del Café (IHCAFE), the Honduran national coffee institute, began receiving reports of rust infections on Lempira plants in January. An early theory attributed the discovery to mistaken identity and the infected plant was a different variety. DNA testing by World Coffee Research confirmed the variety, however.
IHCAFE reported that as of April the incidence level of rust was 6% nationwide. However, 18% of Lempira farms surveyed in March had incidence levels higher than 10%. IHCAFE is warning farmers of potential problems with the coming rains.