Fungus with species-jumping genes threatens coffee crops. 'Resurrecting' fungal genomes may help understand it

Phys.org

February 18, 2026

For anyone who relies on coffee to start their day, coffee wilt disease may be the most important disease you've never heard of. This fungal disease has repeatedly reshaped the global coffee supply over the past century, with consequences that reach from African farms to cafe counters worldwide.