Effect of altitude on the distribution of the fungus causing coffee berry disease in Kenya*

Abstract

SUMMARY Investigations in 1968 and 1969 showed that the relative abundance of the four main strains of Colletotrichum coffeanum (CBD, ccp, cca and cent (Gibbs, 1969)) in the bark of coffee trees varied with altitude. The CBD and ccp strains increased substantially with altitude; the cca strain also increased but to a smaller extent. The cent strain decreased with increasing altitude. It is considered that the greater abundance of the CBD strain at the higher altitudes contributes to the greater severity of coffee berry disease at these locations.