Tree Effects on Coffee Leaf Rust at Field and Landscape Scales

Area of Science:

• Agroforestry
• Plant Pathology
• Ecology

Background:

• Agroforestry systems offer ecosystem services but can impact plant diseases.
• Understanding tree-disease interactions is crucial for disease management in these systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze how trees in agroforestry systems affect coffee leaf rust.
• To identify tree traits and management strategies for disease control at various scales.

Main Methods:

• Focused on coffee leaf rust as a case study.
• Examined microclimate modifications by trees and their impact on disease development.
• Integrated epidemiological and functional trait ecology approaches.

Main Results:

• Trees can promote or suppress coffee leaf rust at the plot scale through microclimate changes.
• Thin canopies, open structure, and small leaves are beneficial for plot-scale management.
• Large trees with dense canopies and waxy leaves reduce wind speed and spore dispersal at the landscape scale.

Conclusions:

• Tree canopy characteristics, leaf traits, and spatial arrangement are key for managing coffee leaf rust.
• Combining epidemiological and trait ecology studies enhances disease management strategies in agroforestry.
• Management options like pruning and spatial arrangement can optimize disease control.