Scientists Uncover Genetic Secrets Behind Coffee Wilt Disease

Researchers revive historical fungal strains to understand how the disease has evolved and threatens global coffee production.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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Coffee wilt disease, caused by the fungus Fusarium xylarioides, has repeatedly devastated coffee production in Africa over the past century, costing over $1 billion and forcing countless farms to close. Researchers have now reconstructed the genetic changes in the fungus behind these outbreaks, finding evidence that it has acquired new disease-causing genes through horizontal gene transfer from other Fusarium species. This discovery could help farmers better manage the disease and prevent future outbreaks.

Why it matters

Understanding the genetic evolution of plant pathogens like coffee wilt disease is crucial to preventing future outbreaks that threaten global coffee supplies. The research shows how modern agricultural practices like monocultures can accelerate the ability of fungi to adapt and overcome plant defenses, leading to devastating crop losses. Identifying alternative host plants that harbor the fungus could also give farmers new tools to manage the disease.

The details

Researcher Lily Peck sequenced historical strains of the Fusarium xylarioides fungus to trace how it has genetically changed over time. She found that strains targeting arabica and robusta coffee plants differed genetically, with many differences acquired through horizontal gene transfer from the global plant pathogen Fusarium oxysporum. This allowed the coffee wilt fungus to gain new disease-causing genes, enabling it to infect different coffee species. The research also suggests that neighboring plants like banana trees and weeds in coffee fields may act as reservoirs for the fungus, facilitating the exchange of genetic material and the emergence of new disease strains.

  • Coffee wilt disease was first identified in 1927 in Africa.
  • The disease reemerged in the 1970s, spreading through eastern and central Africa and decimating robusta coffee production by the mid-1990s.
  • Researchers identified the disease on arabica coffee in Ethiopia in the 1950s, which became widespread by the 1970s.
  • In 2023, researchers found evidence that coffee wilt disease had resurfaced across all coffee-producing regions of Ivory Coast.

The players

Lily Peck

A postdoctoral scholar in evolutionary biology at the University of California, Los Angeles, who conducted research on the genetic evolution of the coffee wilt disease fungus.

Fusarium xylarioides

The fungus that causes coffee wilt disease, which has repeatedly reshaped the global coffee supply over the past century.

Fusarium oxysporum

A global plant pathogen that infects over 120 crops, including bananas and tomatoes, and has been found to transfer disease-causing genes to the coffee wilt fungus.

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What they’re saying

“Understanding the lessons of the past is essential to avoiding future plant pandemics.”

— Lily Peck, Postdoctoral Scholar in Evolutionary Biology (Mirage News)

What’s next

Researchers plan to further investigate the role of alternative host plants in harboring and spreading the coffee wilt fungus, which could inform strategies for farmers to better manage the disease and prevent future outbreaks.

The takeaway

The genetic evolution of plant pathogens like the coffee wilt fungus highlights the need for more sustainable and diverse agricultural practices to reduce the risk of devastating crop diseases. By understanding the genetic mechanisms behind how these fungi adapt and spread, scientists can arm farmers with the knowledge to better protect their crops.