Y5Cafe’s editorial board received valuable feedback from Mr. Vũ Quang Lãng (Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper) about pink disease in coffee. His detailed and practical notes have been compiled into this article for coffee growers to reference.
Disease Overview
Table of Contents
During the rainy season, coffee and many other perennial crops are often attacked by pink disease, caused by the fungus Corticium salmonicolor. The disease spreads rapidly and can cause severe losses—sometimes entire plantations must be destroyed.
Symptoms and Damage
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The disease usually starts on branches, near the junction where they meet the main stem or on horizontal shoots.
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At first, you will see smooth pale-pink spots. Over time these patches thicken and turn deeper pink, eventually forming a fine layer of light-pink fungal spores. Old lesions then fade to a whitish-gray.
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Under warm, humid conditions the lesions expand lengthwise along the branch, sometimes covering the entire circumference. The fungus penetrates beneath the bark, damaging the cambium and vascular tissues, which cuts off the flow of water and nutrients.
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Leaves above the lesion yellow and drop, young fruit fall prematurely, and the branch eventually dies back. The infected bark may crack and ooze sap, seriously reducing growth, development, and yield.
Why It Thrives
Pink disease requires high temperature and humidity to reproduce and spread, making it most destructive during the rainy season.
Beyond coffee, the fungus also attacks rubber, mango, durian, soursop, longan, citrus and other fruit trees, so the source of infection is widespread in nature—making prevention challenging.
Integrated Control Measures
1. Cultural Practices
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Avoid planting coffee too densely. Prune regularly—remove diseased branches, shaded interior shoots, or unproductive limbs to improve airflow and reduce humidity.
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Ensure the plantation has good drainage to reduce excess moisture during the rainy season.
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Promptly cut and burn infected branches outside the field to limit spread.
2. Regular Monitoring
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Inspect plantations frequently, especially during rainy months. Treat at the first signs of infection.
3. Chemical Control
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For early lesions on large branches near the trunk, paint affected areas (twice, 7–10 days apart) with a 5% solution of one of the following: Bordeaux mixture, Vanicide 5SL, Saizole 5SC, Validacin 3DD, or Anvil 5SC.
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If many small branches are infected, spray the whole tree with one of these fungicides. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for dosage and application, and ensure the spray thoroughly wets the infected spots and surrounding areas.
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For better adhesion and coverage, add 2% SK Enspray 99EC mineral oil. Spray every 10–14 days until the disease stops spreading.
4. Community Effort
To maximize effectiveness, encourage neighboring farmers to treat their fields simultaneously, reducing cross-infection.
5. Post-treatment Care
In severely affected fields, combine chemical treatments with additional fertilization to help coffee plants recover quickly.
By combining good field hygiene, timely chemical applications, and cooperative action, growers can successfully control pink disease and protect both yield and plant health.