Evaluation of Berry Borer Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Attack on Arabica Coffee Cultivar of Agk-1

Abstract

The yellow Arabica coffee (AGK-1) is a superior local cultivar that has been widely developed in the Garut regency and several other districts in West Java. The advantages of this cultivar are high productivity, large berry size, and specialty flavor quality. One of the obstacles in its development is the coffee berry borer (CBB attack), caused by Hypothenemus hampei, which is the main pest of coffee plants worldwide. The objective of the study was to evaluate the percentage of infestation in Arabica coffee cultivars of AGK-1 both in laboratory and on field studies.  The research was conducted from March to August 2016. The observation of CBB infestation level in the field was carried out in Ciawer and Legok Gede Village, Cikajang District, Garut Regency, West Java, taken on 4 years old plants (1,450 m asl), 6 years (1,300 m asl), 9 years (1,350 m asl), and 11 years (1,300 m asl). Infestation testing of CBB was conducted in laboratory of Plant Protection of Indonesian Industrial and Beverage Crops Research Institute (IIBCRI), Sukabumi, using the method of choice and non choice test. The result showed that the percentage of  H. hampei infestation on AGK-1 yellow Arabica coffee cultivar on field at all age and altitudes was low (3.24%–6.76%). Whereas laboratory testing showed that infestation level of CBB on yellow Arabica coffee cultivar AGK-1 as the highest, both from the choice and non choice test  (51.25% and 17.5% respectively). On the other hand, the berry damage was low and not significantly different from other cultivars/varieties (19.37% and 6.25% respectively).