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      • Two-Year Cycle Block Pruning Method by Aki Yamagishi
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    • Respirator Fit Test Training Workshops - Sign Up
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  • Hawaii Coffee Pests and Problems
    • Anthracnose
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    • Sunburn on Coffee
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    • Coffee Berry Disease - NKO
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Sunburn on Coffee


Sunburn, scorch, and sun-scald  of  coffee can occur when plants and branches are (suddenly) exposed to excessive sunlight and solar radiation. This type of damage is commonly observed following pruning and planting of young trees as the intense sunlight (and heat) causes the breakdown of chlorophyll in the leaf. Symptoms may be  more severe when strong sun is combined with dry soil conditions. 

Initial damage appears as pale, bleached or faded areas that then become brown and necrotic. Unless extremely severe, plants typically recover from sunburn damage.
Manage sunburn with proper pruning techniques:
  • Prune following the harvest season.
    • Typically in late winter for farms with a seasonal harvest ending around Dec./Jan.
    • Typically in spring/late spring for harvests ending around Mar./Apr.
  • Descucker excess verticals and laterals to increase sunlight and airflow to remaining branches.
    • Desuckering over verticals should be done at least once a year about 3-4 months after pruning.
      • ​Each vertical on a stump competes with neighboring verticals for sunlight, water and nutrients.
      • Excessive shading due to an excess number of verticals can cause etiolation where verticals "stretch" and grow rapidly to receive its essential light for photosynthesis. These lanky verticals often naturally fall over during production and must be propped up because their cells didn't strengthen as a result of rapid expansion.
    • Remove excess secondary verticals that arise from primary verticals.
      • ​Secondary verticals create additional shade for young verticals on the stump and can also encourage etiolation, disease and pests.
    • A goal should be to have no more than 4 verticals per stump.
      • The total number of verticals will dependent on tree age, health, shading, fertility and pruning style.

Manage sunburn for new plantings:
  • Acclimatize or harden-off young trees with increasingly greater sunlight and solar radiation over a 3-6 month period prior to planting in full sunlight.
    • ​Decreasing shade over time, even by increasing spacing between potted plants, can help to increase stem strength. 
    • A lack of sun can cause etiolation, resulting in lanky, weak-stemmed trees that need to be propped to remain upright.
  • Water plants prior to planting to increase tissue turgidity and reduce wilting.
  • Irrigate the soil before and after planting for adequate soil moisture.
    • ​Plant during the rainy season; although excess rain may be detrimental to plants and could result in pest and disease incidence. Treat as necessary for control.
  • Sun protectants such as kaolin clay may help to protect leaves from sun exposure and act as an acclimatization tool.
  • Avoid over-fertilizing young, newly planted trees as root-burn can occur and affect tree health. Slow release fertilizer may be helpful.
  • Avoid planting during the heat of the day, if possible.

Additional reading:
https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/sunburn-leaf-scorch-annuals-bulbs-groundcovers-perennials-and-vines
https://extension.unh.edu/resource/starting-plants-seed-fact-sheet

Contact website management if you require any assistance with the site or information provided.
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  • Home
  • Coffee Leaf Rust
    • Coffee Leaf Rust Photos
    • HDOA CLR Pest Alert >
      • HDOA CLR Report Form
    • Sanitation and Disinfestation Info
    • Surveying, Sampling and Monitoring of CLR >
      • HDOA CLR Field Guide and Submission Form
    • Spraying for CLR and Spray Product Info >
      • Spraying for CLR - English
      • Pulverización para CLR - Español
      • Spraying for CLR - Tagalog
      • Spraying for CLR - Ilocano
      • Sprayer Calibration and Pesticide Calculations
      • Priaxor Xemium Info
      • ProBlad Verde Info
      • Pesticide Use FAQs
    • Pruning for CLR and CBB
    • Coffee Leaf Rust Poster >
      • La Roya del Café Póster - Español
      • Coffee Leaf Rust Poster - Tagalog
      • Coffee Leaf Rust Poster - Ilocano
    • CLR Trifold Brochure
    • CLR Presentations and Meetings
    • CLR Publications
    • CLR/CBB Subsidy Program Info
    • Bioworks BotaniGard and Mycotrol Compatibility Chart
  • CBB Management
    • Field Sanitation
    • Pruning >
      • Two-Year Cycle Block Pruning Method by Aki Yamagishi
    • Feral and Unmanaged Coffee Trees
    • Field Monitoring
    • CBB Control >
      • Predators of CBB
    • Harvesting
    • Shipping
    • Beauveria Subsidy Program Info
    • Bioworks BotaniGard and Mycotrol Compatibility Chart
    • 2020 CBB IPM Document
    • CBB & Coffee Presentations & Posters
    • CBB Publications
  • Events and Announcements
    • 4/11-4/15 Sprayer Calibration and Respirator Use and Fit Testing Workshops - Kona, Hilo & Kau
    • Feb/Mar CLR Research and Management Update Webinars with Live Q&A
    • Respirator Fit Test Training Workshops - Sign Up
    • Hands-on Coffee Grafting Workshops - Sign Up
  • Hawaii Coffee Pests and Problems
    • Anthracnose
    • Banana Moth
    • Bird Damage
    • Black Twig Borer
    • Blister Spot
    • Cercospora Leaf Spot and Berry Blotch
    • Coffee Berry Borer
    • Coffee Root-knot Nematode
    • Food Safety Concerns - Slug, feces, etc.
    • Fruit Fly
    • Glyphosate Herbicide Injury
    • Green Scale and Sooty Mold
    • J-rooting
    • Little Fire Ant
    • Mite Feeding Damage
    • Nutritional Problems
    • Over-bearing Dieback
    • Rodent Damage
    • Skin Cracking
    • Slug and Snail Damage
    • Sunburn on Coffee
  • NKO - Coffee Pests and Diseases Not in Hawaii
    • Coffee Berry Disease - NKO
    • Coffee Leaf Miner - NKO
    • Coffee White Stem Borer - NKO
    • Coffee Wilt Disease - NKO
  • Coffee Publications and Presentations
    • Growing Coffee in Hawaii
  • Coffee Leaf and Soil Sampling Instructions
  • HDOA Rules - Coffee
  • USDA - Coffee Rules
  • Coffee Organizations in Hawaii
  • Agricultural Theft
    • Chapter 145 - Reg. of Farm Product
    • Dealer Licensing
    • Contacts
  • Coffee Crop Insurance
  • Archive
  • About us
  • Blog