Coffea arabica popularly known as 'arabica' and C. canephora commonly called as 'robusta' are the two species of commercial interest that are responsible for over 99% of global coffee produce. Arabica is suitable for cultivation in high altitudes (900to 1500 MSL) while robusta is adaptable to low lands (500 to 800 MSL) Arabica produces superior quality coffee but is susceptible to the major diseases and pests like leaf rust (Hemileia vastatrix Berk & Br.), Coffee berry disease (Colletotrichum kahawae), stem borer (Xylotrechus quadripes Chevrolat) and nematodes (Meloidogyne sp. and Pratylenchus sp.) that affect production severely, if proper control measures are not adopted. Robusta, is relatively tolerant to these diseases and pests but the bean and liquor quality are rather inferior to arabica coffee. In India, both arabica and robusta coffee types are commercially cultivated taking into account the advantage of their diverse ecological adaptation to high and low altitudes respectively.
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