India, Feb. 19 -- Coffee wilt disease has cost more than $1 billion since the 1990s and devastated African harvests

New genetic research shows the fungus evolved by acquiring genes from other plant pathogens

Horizontal gene transfer may explain why outbreaks shifted between arabica and robusta

Findings highlight risks of monoculture farming and the need for smarter disease management

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.

Infection with the fungus Fusarium xylarioides results in a...