diff --git a/java/org/rocksdb/ColumnFamilyHandle.java b/java/org/rocksdb/ColumnFamilyHandle.java
index 334abd96d..92a4d7cef 100644
--- a/java/org/rocksdb/ColumnFamilyHandle.java
+++ b/java/org/rocksdb/ColumnFamilyHandle.java
@@ -10,23 +10,33 @@ package org.rocksdb;
  * ColumnFamily Pointers.
  */
 public class ColumnFamilyHandle extends RocksObject {
-  ColumnFamilyHandle(long nativeHandle) {
+  ColumnFamilyHandle(RocksDB rocksDB, long nativeHandle) {
     super();
     nativeHandle_ = nativeHandle;
+    // rocksDB must point to a valid RocksDB instance;
+    assert(rocksDB != null);
+    // ColumnFamilyHandle must hold a reference to the related RocksDB instance
+    // to guarantee that while a GC cycle starts ColumnFamilyHandle instances
+    // are freed prior to RocksDB instances.
+    rocksDB_ = rocksDB;
   }
 
   /**
-   * Deletes underlying C++ filter pointer.
+   * <p>Deletes underlying C++ iterator pointer.</p>
    *
-   * Note that this function should be called only after all
-   * RocksDB instances referencing the filter are closed.
-   * Otherwise an undefined behavior will occur.
+   * <p>Note: the underlying handle can only be safely deleted if the RocksDB
+   * instance related to a certain ColumnFamilyHandle is still valid and initialized.
+   * Therefore {@code disposeInternal()} checks if the RocksDB is initialized
+   * before freeing the native handle.</p>
    */
   @Override protected void disposeInternal() {
     assert(isInitialized());
-    disposeInternal(nativeHandle_);
+    if (rocksDB_.isInitialized()) {
+      disposeInternal(nativeHandle_);
+    }
   }
 
   private native void disposeInternal(long handle);
 
+  private RocksDB rocksDB_;
 }
diff --git a/java/org/rocksdb/RocksDB.java b/java/org/rocksdb/RocksDB.java
index 291c505c7..2a90c7370 100644
--- a/java/org/rocksdb/RocksDB.java
+++ b/java/org/rocksdb/RocksDB.java
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ public class RocksDB extends RocksObject {
     List<Long> cfReferences = db.open(options.nativeHandle_, path,
         columnFamilyNames, columnFamilyNames.size());
     for (int i=0; i<columnFamilyNames.size(); i++) {
-      columnFamilyHandles.add(new ColumnFamilyHandle(cfReferences.get(i)));
+      columnFamilyHandles.add(new ColumnFamilyHandle(db, cfReferences.get(i)));
     }
     db.storeOptionsInstance(options);
     return db;
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ public class RocksDB extends RocksObject {
     List<Long> cfReferences = db.openROnly(options.nativeHandle_, path,
         columnFamilyNames, columnFamilyNames.size());
     for (int i=0; i<columnFamilyNames.size(); i++) {
-      columnFamilyHandles.add(new ColumnFamilyHandle(cfReferences.get(i)));
+      columnFamilyHandles.add(new ColumnFamilyHandle(db, cfReferences.get(i)));
     }
 
     db.storeOptionsInstance(options);
@@ -426,7 +426,7 @@ public class RocksDB extends RocksObject {
    * This check is potentially lighter-weight than invoking DB::Get(). One way
    * to make this lighter weight is to avoid doing any IOs.
    *
-   * @param columnFamilyHandle {@link ColumnFamilyHandle} instnace
+   * @param columnFamilyHandle {@link ColumnFamilyHandle} instance
    * @param key byte array of a key to search for
    * @param value StringBuffer instance which is a out parameter if a value is
    *    found in block-cache.
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ public class RocksDB extends RocksObject {
    * to make this lighter weight is to avoid doing any IOs.
    *
    * @param readOptions {@link ReadOptions} instance
-   * @param columnFamilyHandle {@link ColumnFamilyHandle} instnace
+   * @param columnFamilyHandle {@link ColumnFamilyHandle} instance
    * @param key byte array of a key to search for
    * @param value StringBuffer instance which is a out parameter if a value is
    *    found in block-cache.
@@ -483,6 +483,20 @@ public class RocksDB extends RocksObject {
     merge(nativeHandle_, key, key.length, value, value.length);
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Add merge operand for key/value pair in a ColumnFamily.
+   *
+   * @param columnFamilyHandle {@link ColumnFamilyHandle} instance
+   * @param key the specified key to be merged.
+   * @param value the value to be nerged with the current value for
+   * the specified key.
+   */
+  public void merge(ColumnFamilyHandle columnFamilyHandle, byte[] key,
+      byte[] value) throws RocksDBException {
+    merge(nativeHandle_, key, key.length, value, value.length,
+        columnFamilyHandle.nativeHandle_);
+  }
+
   /**
    * Add merge operand for key/value pair.
    *
@@ -497,6 +511,22 @@ public class RocksDB extends RocksObject {
         key, key.length, value, value.length);
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Add merge operand for key/value pair.
+   *
+   * @param columnFamilyHandle {@link ColumnFamilyHandle} instance
+   * @param writeOpts {@link WriteOptions} for this write.
+   * @param key the specified key to be merged.
+   * @param value the value to be merged with the current value for
+   * the specified key.
+   */
+  public void merge(ColumnFamilyHandle columnFamilyHandle,
+      WriteOptions writeOpts, byte[] key, byte[] value)
+      throws RocksDBException {
+    merge(nativeHandle_, writeOpts.nativeHandle_,
+        key, key.length, value, value.length,
+        columnFamilyHandle.nativeHandle_);
+  }
 
   /**
    * Get the value associated with the specified key within column family*
@@ -1000,8 +1030,8 @@ public class RocksDB extends RocksObject {
    */
   public ColumnFamilyHandle createColumnFamily(String columnFamilyName)
       throws RocksDBException {
-    return new ColumnFamilyHandle(createColumnFamily(nativeHandle_,
-        columnFamilyName));
+    return new ColumnFamilyHandle(this, createColumnFamily(nativeHandle_,
+        options_.nativeHandle_, columnFamilyName));
   }
 
   /**
@@ -1063,10 +1093,17 @@ public class RocksDB extends RocksObject {
   protected native void merge(
       long handle, byte[] key, int keyLen,
       byte[] value, int valueLen) throws RocksDBException;
+  protected native void merge(
+      long handle, byte[] key, int keyLen,
+      byte[] value, int valueLen, long cfHandle) throws RocksDBException;
   protected native void merge(
       long handle, long writeOptHandle,
       byte[] key, int keyLen,
       byte[] value, int valueLen) throws RocksDBException;
+  protected native void merge(
+      long handle, long writeOptHandle,
+      byte[] key, int keyLen,
+      byte[] value, int valueLen, long cfHandle) throws RocksDBException;
   protected native int get(
       long handle, byte[] key, int keyLen,
       byte[] value, int valueLen) throws RocksDBException;
@@ -1122,7 +1159,8 @@ public class RocksDB extends RocksObject {
       long nativeHandle, long snapshotHandle);
   private native void disposeInternal(long handle);
 
-  private native long createColumnFamily(long handle, String name) throws RocksDBException;
+  private native long createColumnFamily(long handle, long opt_handle,
+      String name) throws RocksDBException;
   private native void dropColumnFamily(long handle, long cfHandle) throws RocksDBException;
 
   protected Options options_;
diff --git a/java/org/rocksdb/test/MergeTest.java b/java/org/rocksdb/test/MergeTest.java
index f6acff9b2..d102038d3 100644
--- a/java/org/rocksdb/test/MergeTest.java
+++ b/java/org/rocksdb/test/MergeTest.java
@@ -5,81 +5,178 @@
 
 package org.rocksdb.test;
 
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Collections;
 import org.rocksdb.*;
 
 public class MergeTest {
-        static final String db_path_string = "/tmp/mergestringjni_db";
-        static final String db_path_function = "/tmp/mergefunctionjni_db";
-        static {
-                RocksDB.loadLibrary();
-        }
+  static final String db_path_string = "/tmp/rocksdbjni_mergestring_db";
+  static final String db_cf_path_string = "/tmp/rocksdbjni_mergecfstring_db";
+  static final String db_path_operator = "/tmp/rocksdbjni_mergeoperator_db";
 
-        public static void testStringOption()
-                throws InterruptedException, RocksDBException {
+  static {
+    RocksDB.loadLibrary();
+  }
 
-                System.out.println("Testing merge function string option ===");
+  public static void testStringOption()
+      throws InterruptedException, RocksDBException {
+    Options opt = new Options();
+    opt.setCreateIfMissing(true);
+    opt.setMergeOperatorName("stringappend");
 
-                Options opt = new Options();
-                opt.setCreateIfMissing(true);
-                opt.setMergeOperatorName("stringappend");
+    RocksDB db = RocksDB.open(opt, db_path_string);
+    // writing aa under key
+    db.put("key".getBytes(), "aa".getBytes());
+    // merge bb under key
+    db.merge("key".getBytes(), "bb".getBytes());
 
-                RocksDB db = RocksDB.open(opt, db_path_string);
+    byte[] value = db.get("key".getBytes());
+    String strValue = new String(value);
 
-                System.out.println("Writing aa under key...");
-                db.put("key".getBytes(), "aa".getBytes());
+    db.close();
+    opt.dispose();
+    assert(strValue.equals("aa,bb"));
+  }
 
-                System.out.println("Writing bb under key...");
-                db.merge("key".getBytes(), "bb".getBytes());
+  public static void testCFStringOption()
+      throws InterruptedException, RocksDBException {
+    Options opt = new Options();
+    opt.setCreateIfMissing(true);
+    opt.setCreateMissingColumnFamilies(true);
+    opt.setMergeOperatorName("stringappend");
 
-                byte[] value = db.get("key".getBytes());
-                String strValue = new String(value);
+    List<String> cfNames = new ArrayList<String>();
+    List<ColumnFamilyHandle> columnFamilyHandleList =
+    new ArrayList<ColumnFamilyHandle>();
+    cfNames.add("default");
+    cfNames.add("new_cf");
+    RocksDB db = RocksDB.open(opt, db_cf_path_string, cfNames, columnFamilyHandleList);
 
-                System.out.println("Retrieved value: " + strValue);
+    // writing aa under key
+    db.put(columnFamilyHandleList.get(1), "cfkey".getBytes(), "aa".getBytes());
+    // merge bb under key
+    db.merge(columnFamilyHandleList.get(1), "cfkey".getBytes(), "bb".getBytes());
 
-                db.close();
-                opt.dispose();
+    byte[] value = db.get(columnFamilyHandleList.get(1), "cfkey".getBytes());
+    String strValue = new String(value);
 
-                assert(strValue.equals("aa,bb"));
+    for (ColumnFamilyHandle handle : columnFamilyHandleList) {
+      handle.dispose();
+    }
+    db.close();
+    opt.dispose();
+    assert(strValue.equals("aa,bb"));
+  }
 
-                System.out.println("Merge function string option passed!");
-        }
+  public static void testOperatorOption()
+      throws InterruptedException, RocksDBException {
+    Options opt = new Options();
+    opt.setCreateIfMissing(true);
 
-        public static void testOperatorOption()
-                throws InterruptedException, RocksDBException {
+    StringAppendOperator stringAppendOperator = new StringAppendOperator();
+    opt.setMergeOperator(stringAppendOperator);
 
-                System.out.println("Testing merge function operator option ===");
+    RocksDB db = RocksDB.open(opt, db_path_string);
+    // Writing aa under key
+    db.put("key".getBytes(), "aa".getBytes());
 
-                Options opt = new Options();
-                opt.setCreateIfMissing(true);
+    // Writing bb under key
+    db.merge("key".getBytes(), "bb".getBytes());
 
-                StringAppendOperator stringAppendOperator = new StringAppendOperator();
-                opt.setMergeOperator(stringAppendOperator);
+    byte[] value = db.get("key".getBytes());
+    String strValue = new String(value);
 
-                RocksDB db = RocksDB.open(opt, db_path_string);
+    db.close();
+    opt.dispose();
+    assert(strValue.equals("aa,bb"));
+  }
 
-                System.out.println("Writing aa under key...");
-                db.put("key".getBytes(), "aa".getBytes());
+  public static void testCFOperatorOption()
+      throws InterruptedException, RocksDBException {
+    Options opt = new Options();
+    opt.setCreateIfMissing(true);
+    opt.setCreateMissingColumnFamilies(true);
+    StringAppendOperator stringAppendOperator = new StringAppendOperator();
+    opt.setMergeOperator(stringAppendOperator);
 
-                System.out.println("Writing bb under key...");
-                db.merge("key".getBytes(), "bb".getBytes());
+    List<String> cfNames = new ArrayList<String>();
+    List<ColumnFamilyHandle> columnFamilyHandleList =
+    new ArrayList<ColumnFamilyHandle>();
+    cfNames.add("default");
+    cfNames.add("new_cf");
+    RocksDB db = RocksDB.open(opt, db_path_operator, cfNames, columnFamilyHandleList);
 
-                byte[] value = db.get("key".getBytes());
-                String strValue = new String(value);
+    // writing aa under key
+    db.put(columnFamilyHandleList.get(1), "cfkey".getBytes(), "aa".getBytes());
+    // merge bb under key
+    db.merge(columnFamilyHandleList.get(1), "cfkey".getBytes(), "bb".getBytes());
+    byte[] value = db.get(columnFamilyHandleList.get(1), "cfkey".getBytes());
+    String strValue = new String(value);
 
-                System.out.println("Retrieved value: " + strValue);
+    // Test also with createColumnFamily
+    ColumnFamilyHandle columnFamilyHandle = db.createColumnFamily("new_cf2");
+    // writing xx under cfkey2
+    db.put(columnFamilyHandle, "cfkey2".getBytes(), "xx".getBytes());
+    // merge yy under cfkey2
+    db.merge(columnFamilyHandle, "cfkey2".getBytes(), "yy".getBytes());
+    value = db.get(columnFamilyHandle, "cfkey2".getBytes());
+    String strValueTmpCf = new String(value);
 
-                db.close();
-                opt.dispose();
+    db.close();
+    opt.dispose();
+    assert(strValue.equals("aa,bb"));
+    assert(strValueTmpCf.equals("xx,yy"));
+  }
 
-                assert(strValue.equals("aa,bb"));
+  public static void testOperatorGcBehaviour()
+      throws RocksDBException {
+    Options opt = new Options();
+    opt.setCreateIfMissing(true);
+    StringAppendOperator stringAppendOperator = new StringAppendOperator();
+    opt.setMergeOperator(stringAppendOperator);
+    RocksDB db = RocksDB.open(opt, db_path_string);
+    db.close();
+    opt.dispose();
+    System.gc();
+    System.runFinalization();
+    // test reuse
+    opt = new Options();
+    opt.setMergeOperator(stringAppendOperator);
+    db = RocksDB.open(opt, db_path_string);
+    db.close();
+    opt.dispose();
+    System.gc();
+    System.runFinalization();
+    // test param init
+    opt = new Options();
+    opt.setMergeOperator(new StringAppendOperator());
+    db = RocksDB.open(opt, db_path_string);
+    db.close();
+    opt.dispose();
+    System.gc();
+    System.runFinalization();
+    // test replace one with another merge operator instance
+    opt = new Options();
+    opt.setMergeOperator(stringAppendOperator);
+    StringAppendOperator newStringAppendOperator = new StringAppendOperator();
+    opt.setMergeOperator(newStringAppendOperator);
+    db = RocksDB.open(opt, db_path_string);
+    db.close();
+    opt.dispose();
+    stringAppendOperator = null;
+    newStringAppendOperator = null;
+    System.gc();
+    System.runFinalization();
+  }
 
-                System.out.println("Merge function operator option passed!");
-        }
-
-        public static void main(String[] args)
-                throws InterruptedException, RocksDBException {
-                testStringOption();
-                testOperatorOption();
-        }
+  public static void main(String[] args)
+      throws InterruptedException, RocksDBException {
+    testStringOption();
+    testCFStringOption();
+    testOperatorOption();
+    testCFOperatorOption();
+    testOperatorGcBehaviour();
+    System.out.println("Passed MergeTest.");
+  }
 }
diff --git a/java/rocksjni/rocksjni.cc b/java/rocksjni/rocksjni.cc
index 1e886e2e2..50cd8a359 100644
--- a/java/rocksjni/rocksjni.cc
+++ b/java/rocksjni/rocksjni.cc
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ jobject
       cfnames_to_free.push_back(cfname);
       jcfnames_for_free.push_back(jstr);
       column_families.push_back(rocksdb::ColumnFamilyDescriptor(cfname,
-          rocksdb::ColumnFamilyOptions()));
+          *static_cast<rocksdb::ColumnFamilyOptions*>(opt)));
   }
 
   rocksdb::Status s = rocksdb::DB::OpenForReadOnly(*opt,
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ jobject Java_org_rocksdb_RocksDB_open__JLjava_lang_String_2Ljava_util_List_2I(
       cfnames_to_free.push_back(cfname);
       jcfnames_for_free.push_back(jstr);
       column_families.push_back(rocksdb::ColumnFamilyDescriptor(cfname,
-          rocksdb::ColumnFamilyOptions()));
+          *static_cast<rocksdb::ColumnFamilyOptions*>(opt)));
   }
 
   rocksdb::Status s = rocksdb::DB::Open(*opt, db_path, column_families,
@@ -919,7 +919,7 @@ void Java_org_rocksdb_RocksDB_remove__JJ_3BIJ(
 
 void rocksdb_merge_helper(
     JNIEnv* env, rocksdb::DB* db, const rocksdb::WriteOptions& write_options,
-    jbyteArray jkey, jint jkey_len,
+    rocksdb::ColumnFamilyHandle* cf_handle, jbyteArray jkey, jint jkey_len,
     jbyteArray jvalue, jint jvalue_len) {
 
   jbyte* key = env->GetByteArrayElements(jkey, 0);
@@ -927,7 +927,12 @@ void rocksdb_merge_helper(
   rocksdb::Slice key_slice(reinterpret_cast<char*>(key), jkey_len);
   rocksdb::Slice value_slice(reinterpret_cast<char*>(value), jvalue_len);
 
-  rocksdb::Status s = db->Merge(write_options, key_slice, value_slice);
+  rocksdb::Status s;
+  if (cf_handle != nullptr) {
+    s = db->Merge(write_options, cf_handle, key_slice, value_slice);
+  } else {
+    s = db->Merge(write_options, key_slice, value_slice);
+  }
 
   // trigger java unref on key and value.
   // by passing JNI_ABORT, it will simply release the reference without
@@ -955,8 +960,29 @@ void Java_org_rocksdb_RocksDB_merge__J_3BI_3BI(
       rocksdb::WriteOptions();
 
   rocksdb_merge_helper(env, db, default_write_options,
-                     jkey, jkey_len,
-                     jvalue, jvalue_len);
+      nullptr, jkey, jkey_len, jvalue, jvalue_len);
+}
+
+/*
+ * Class:     org_rocksdb_RocksDB
+ * Method:    merge
+ * Signature: (J[BI[BIJ)V
+ */
+void Java_org_rocksdb_RocksDB_merge__J_3BI_3BIJ(
+    JNIEnv* env, jobject jdb, jlong jdb_handle,
+    jbyteArray jkey, jint jkey_len,
+    jbyteArray jvalue, jint jvalue_len, jlong jcf_handle) {
+  auto db = reinterpret_cast<rocksdb::DB*>(jdb_handle);
+  static const rocksdb::WriteOptions default_write_options =
+      rocksdb::WriteOptions();
+  auto cf_handle = reinterpret_cast<rocksdb::ColumnFamilyHandle*>(jcf_handle);
+  if (cf_handle != nullptr) {
+    rocksdb_merge_helper(env, db, default_write_options,
+        cf_handle, jkey, jkey_len, jvalue, jvalue_len);
+  } else {
+    rocksdb::RocksDBExceptionJni::ThrowNew(env,
+        rocksdb::Status::InvalidArgument("Invalid ColumnFamilyHandle."));
+  }
 }
 
 /*
@@ -974,8 +1000,30 @@ void Java_org_rocksdb_RocksDB_merge__JJ_3BI_3BI(
       jwrite_options_handle);
 
   rocksdb_merge_helper(env, db, *write_options,
-                     jkey, jkey_len,
-                     jvalue, jvalue_len);
+      nullptr, jkey, jkey_len, jvalue, jvalue_len);
+}
+
+/*
+ * Class:     org_rocksdb_RocksDB
+ * Method:    merge
+ * Signature: (JJ[BI[BIJ)V
+ */
+void Java_org_rocksdb_RocksDB_merge__JJ_3BI_3BIJ(
+    JNIEnv* env, jobject jdb,
+    jlong jdb_handle, jlong jwrite_options_handle,
+    jbyteArray jkey, jint jkey_len,
+    jbyteArray jvalue, jint jvalue_len, jlong jcf_handle) {
+  auto db = reinterpret_cast<rocksdb::DB*>(jdb_handle);
+  auto write_options = reinterpret_cast<rocksdb::WriteOptions*>(
+      jwrite_options_handle);
+  auto cf_handle = reinterpret_cast<rocksdb::ColumnFamilyHandle*>(jcf_handle);
+  if (cf_handle != nullptr) {
+    rocksdb_merge_helper(env, db, *write_options,
+        cf_handle, jkey, jkey_len, jvalue, jvalue_len);
+  } else {
+    rocksdb::RocksDBExceptionJni::ThrowNew(env,
+        rocksdb::Status::InvalidArgument("Invalid ColumnFamilyHandle."));
+  }
 }
 
 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -1062,15 +1110,17 @@ jlongArray Java_org_rocksdb_RocksDB_iterators(
 /*
  * Class:     org_rocksdb_RocksDB
  * Method:    createColumnFamily
- * Signature: (JLjava/lang/String;)J;
+ * Signature: (JJLjava/lang/String;)J;
  */
 jlong Java_org_rocksdb_RocksDB_createColumnFamily(
-    JNIEnv* env, jobject jdb, jlong jdb_handle, jstring jcfname) {
+    JNIEnv* env, jobject jdb, jlong jdb_handle, jlong jopt_handle,
+    jstring jcfname) {
   rocksdb::ColumnFamilyHandle* handle;
   const char* cfname = env->GetStringUTFChars(jcfname, 0);
   auto db_handle = reinterpret_cast<rocksdb::DB*>(jdb_handle);
+  auto opt = reinterpret_cast<rocksdb::Options*>(jopt_handle);
   rocksdb::Status s = db_handle->CreateColumnFamily(
-      rocksdb::ColumnFamilyOptions(), cfname, &handle);
+      *static_cast<rocksdb::ColumnFamilyOptions*>(opt), cfname, &handle);
   env->ReleaseStringUTFChars(jcfname, cfname);
 
   if (s.ok()) {