The true biologist deals with life, with teeming, boisterous life, and Learns something from it, Learns that the first rule of life is living. JOHN STEINBECK To date we have written a dozen or more articles on the pro active role of microorganisms in shaping the destiny of the Coffee Mountain. However, off late we […]

Readers are requested to refer the article ENDOMYCORRHIZAE for a better understanding of the present article. Forest trees are an integral part of the coffee ecosystem. In fact, all shade grown Indian coffee farms are a mosaic of coffee plants and natural forests. The characteristic feature of Indian coffee Plantations is that they are shade […]

Readers are requested to refer the article INVISIBLE COMMUNICATIONS IN COFFEE PLANTATIONS for a better understanding of the present article. Think of Indian coffee plantations and the picture that flashes across the mind is tall evergreen mountains and steep valleys covered with trees, shrubs, herbs, spices and an array of insects and microbes. It is […]

Readers are requested to refer the article Microbial Inoculants for a better understanding of the present article. Early History Shade grown coffee belts are unique to India and a handful of countries throughout the globe. Essentially, the FOREST approach of growing coffee along with MULTIPLE CROPS, in India has enabled the plantation to fight many […]

Coffee Plantations are uniquely positioned in the fragile Western Ghats. These lush and verdant biodiverse mountains are filled with surprises. They have only revealed a part of the mystery and today scientist’s world over are trying to unlock the hidden secrets associated with the coffee mountains. Evolution has deliberately created a fundamental niche which makes […]

In the early 1870’s the coffee leaf rust caused by the fungus Hemileia vastatrix, wiped out coffee plantations in Sri Lanka. In spite of the pioneering work of the English pathologist, H.Marshal Ward, no biological or chemical cure could be found to save the coffee plantations. Hence, the coffee production was abandoned in Sri Lanka […]