Work

Block-stumping as an effective and cost-efficient style of pruning to reduce coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei Ferrari) infestation and damage in Hawaiian coffee farms

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Pruning is a cultural practice conducted by coffee farmers to increase production and facilitate the management of insect pests and diseases. This field study assessed the impact of different pruning styles on the regulation of coffee berry borer (CBB, Hypothenemus hampei ), widely considered the most damaging insect pest of coffee worldwide. For each pruning system (block-stumping, Kona style, topping, and Beaumont-Fukunaga), 3-4 coffee lots were selected on Hawaiʻi Island and CBB infestation, bean damage, and harvesting efficacy was evaluated in 2023 and 2024. Yields, sale price, and pruning costs were also recorded to calculate the benefit cost ratio of each pruning style. Block-stumping resulted in significantly lower CBB infestation (0.6% and 2.6%, year one and two of harvest) relative to Beaumont-Fukunaga (6.3%), topping (8.6%) and Kona style (10.0%). Block-stumping also resulted in significantly lower bean damage (2.6%) compared to topping (24.3%) and Kona style (25.6%). The most effective harvesting was done in lots that were block-stumped (≤6.7 berries left per tree), while Beaumont-Fukunaga (10.9), topping (14.5), and Kona style (15.7) resulted in low harvesting efficacy. While there was no significant difference among pruning styles, the benefit cost ratio was higher in lots that employed block-stumping (2.29) or Beaumont-Fukunaga (2.29) compared to topping (2.18) and the traditional Kona style (2.04). Our findings suggest that block-stumping is the optimal pruning style for reducing CBB infestation and bean damage, and results in improved harvesting efficacy and a higher benefit cost ratio relative to other pruning styles that are commonly used in Hawaiʻi.

Source: Crop Protection

DOI: 10.1016/j.cropro.2025.107502

Authors: Luis F. Aristizábal, Melissa A. Johnson, Mark G. Wright

Institutions: University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, University of Hawaii System, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center

Language: English

Topic: Insect behavior and control techniques

Subfield: Insect Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDGs: Zero hunger, Life on land

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,360