ABSTRACT
Cocoa diseases: witches’ broom Jorge Teodoro De Souza, Federal University of Lavras, Brazil; Fernando Pereira Monteiro, Federal University of Lavras and UNIVAG Centro Universitário, Brazil; Maria Alves Ferreira, Federal University of Lavras, Brazil; and Karina Peres Gramacho and Edna Dora Martins Newman Luz, Comissão Executiva do Plano da Lavoura Cacaueira (CEPLAC), Brazil
1 Introduction
2 Geographical distribution and historical perspective
3 Pathogen taxonomy, biology and disease cycle
4 Diversity, host range and symptomatology
5 Omics of M. perniciosa
6 Fungal pathogenicity and disease physiology
7 Plant development and disease epidemiology
8 Disease control: phytosanitation, and chemical and biological control
9 Disease control: genetic resistance and integrated management
10 Concluding remarks and outlook
11 Where to look for further information
12 Acknowledgements
13 References
Cocoa witches' broom, caused by the fungus Moniliophthora perniciosa, is economically considered the second most damaging disease that affects the cocoa tree (Theobroma cacao L.). It is only surpassed by black pod rot caused by several Phytophthora species with a more widespread occurrence. The witches' broom disease is known by different names in different countries: 'krulloten' in Suriname, 'balai de sorcière' in French-speaking countries, 'escoba de bruja' in Spanish-speaking countries and 'vassoura de bruxa' in Portuguese. The phylogenetically related fungus M. roreri causes a disease known as frosty pod rot, which is also a cocoa disease of economic importance (Bowers et al., 2001).
