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1st Int. Transborder Conf. of the Timor Island: Timor %u2013 Science without borderDili, 7-8 May 2025164Shade Trees Typology and Leaf Rust Incidence in Arabica Coffee PlantationChatarina G.K.H Behar*, Maria T.L Ruma, Elisabeth E. Jaida, Amor T. Karyawati, Theresia L. Boro, RefliFaculty of Science and Engineering, Universitas Nusa Cendana,Jl. Adisucipto, Kupang, NTT 85001, Indonesia*Corresponding author: chatarinabehar@staf.undana.ac.idAbstractShade trees play a vital role in coffee agroforestry systems, especially in the highlands of Ngada Regency. These trees act as natural barriers against intense sunlight, reducing the light that reaches coffee plants. In addition to providingshade, they improve soil structure, enhance root growth, and support nutrient uptake. They also help retain soil moisture, alleviating drought stress during dry periods. The selection of shade tree species is crucial, as it influences the dynamics of the garden ecosystem, including the occurrence of leaf rust disease (Hemileia vastatrix). This research aims to identify different typologies of Arabica coffee shade trees and their impact on leaf rust incidence. A qualitative descriptive survey method was used. Sampling points were selected purposively based on site-specific conditions. Findings show that infestation levels in areas with temporary shade tend to fluctuate more than in those with permanent shade. This may be due to the diverse and non-uniform crown shapes, plant heights, and leaf densities of temporary shade trees, which influence micrometeorology and air circulation inconsistently. Shade plants such as bananas and tuak trees, with broad leaves and rapid growth, create humid and shaded environments that may promote the development of pathogens like H. vastatrix. However, some temporary shade combinations%u2014such as banana + tuak + pumpkin or ampupu + gamal%u2014can create conditions that suppress disease. This indicates that temporary shade can still contribute to disease control if managed thoughtfully.Keywords: shade-trees, temporary-shades, permanent-shades, typology, leaf rust, Hemileia vastatrix,