Coffee Wilt Disease 
Not known to occur in Hawaii
​​​Gibberella xylarioides or coffee wilt disease, is a fungal pathogen not yet found on the Hawaiian islands.

​General pathogen and plant damage description: 
Coffee wilt disease is a fungus that firsts infects a coffee tree via a wound somewhere on the stem, and will then disrupt the vascular system of the plant. This causes leaf flagging as well as necrosis of younger branches and leaf veins. Berries may also ripen prematurely. The fungal disease can distinguished by a blue/black staining of the wood near the base of the tree.
Field management guides published in Phiri and Baker's (2009) "Coffee Wilt in Africa. Final technical report of
the Regional Coffee Wilt Programme (2000-07)":
If suspected, what do I do?
  • Contact and report your find immediately to the Hawaii Department of Agriculture by calling their toll-free pest hotline at 808-643-PEST (7378) or by contacting your nearest UH CTAHR Cooperative Extension office (also listed below). Listen carefully to their instructions. Their instructions may supersede any of the instructions below.
    • ​Big Island - Kona - 808-322-4892;  Hilo - 808-969-8201;  Kamuela - 808-887-6183 
    • Maui - Kahului - 808-244-3242 x222
    • Molokai - Hoolehua - 808-567-6929 
    • Oahu - Honolulu - 808-956-7290;  Pearl City - 808-453-6050;  Wahiawa - 808-622-4185 
    • Kauai - Lihue - 808-274-3471 
  • DO NOT touch the diseased plant parts and DO NOT collect samples of this fungal pathogen or damaged plant parts to prevent potential spread.
  • If possible to do without touching the diseased plant parts, take clear photos and/or video and share them with HDOA and the Cooperative Extension agent.
  • Flag or visibly mark the area where the pest was found and communicate the find with all farm employees and administrators.
  • Keep people and pets away from the area and DO NOT allow movement of soil, plant materials or supplies from the location that the disease was found.
  • If you have touched or contaminated your clothing, footwear, hat, etc. with the fungal pathogen or think you may have, shower immediately with soap and water and wash your clothing, footwear, hat, etc. in laundry detergent and dry with high heat. Once decontaminated, then travel from your farm or location.
  • Provide HDOA and the Cooperative Extension agent with information such as your name and contact, the exact location and address of find, and type of host material where found. Personal information will not be shared with the general public.
​​Preventing new pest and disease introductions to Hawaii
Comply with all HDOA and USDA quarantine regulations. Quarantine restrictions have been placed on unroasted coffee, coffee seeds, plants and other propagative materials, used coffee materials and supplies, etc.
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