Organic Cocoa Industry
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Issue 12 December 2007 Global Research On Cocoa - working with and for farmers Working for the Future allowed them to rebuild an organic cocoa industry. As the organic sector booms, The fungus Trichoderma has for some there are plans to expand this across years been one of the brightest hopes for national borders to include the Maya cocoa disease biocontrol, and has found applica- growers of neighbouring countries. tions in a number of crops. In cocoa its use has continued to be pursued in the laboratory and field, but we are still some Improving Efficacy of Cocoa way from a final product despite promis- Disease Biocontrol: a Way (A) ing experimental results. In this issue (A) Bryan Bailey of the US Department of Forward Agriculture – Agricultural Research Service There are several biocontrol programmes (USDA-ARS) indicates the key research reaching the end of multiple year field questions which still need to be answered, experiments using Trichoderma to control in particular how the mechanisms by cocoa diseases. These programmes use which endophytic Trichoderma impede different isolates of varying species of Tri- pathogens can be exploited to facilitate choderma against diverse cocoa diseases, its development as an effective biocontrol including black pod (Phytophthora spp.), field agent against cocoa pathogens. witches’ broom (Moniliophthora perni- (B)(B) ciosa), and frosty pod (M. roreri), but have Back in June 2002 when this newsletter produced some strikingly similar results; Fig. 1. Close-up of a cocoa flower cushion (A), a was launched, we ran an article detailing potentially hospitable environment, and a cocoa the global threat to cocoa from pests and Trichoderma applications enhance pod surface (B), a hostile surface to colonisation by Trichoderma. (Bryan Bailey) diseases that were at the time regionally • flowering and fruit set. isolated. We pointed out the potential The application of the fungus shows The bigger question remains: “Why do we for them to move into new regions. Since • only limited influence on the reduction not get better control of disease in the then frosty pod rot (Moniliophthora roreri) of diseased pods. developing fruit?” This could be a basic has continued its progress through Latin limitation of the biological system encom- Yield is increased because of the in- America, arriving in Mexico in 2005, passing Trichoderma species, cocoa, and • crease in initial pod set. the cocoa pod borer (Conopomorpha cocoa diseases. Compared to the flower cramerella) invaded Papua New Guinea in • Accumulating evidence indicates that cushions, cocoa pod surfaces tend to be a 2006, and Phytophthora megakarya (black repeated application of Trichoderma, more hostile environment for the establish- pod) continues its spread through the over multiple years, tends to lead to ment of fungal populations because they cocoa growing countries of West Africa continual improvements in disease have properties aimed at limiting disease and was reported in western Côte d’Ivoire control. in 2007. The global cocoa community Several different Trichoderma species have is responding to the invasive threat. We been shown to colonise cocoa flower report on a meeting held in July this year In This Issue cushions. The flower cushion (Figure 1A) in Côte d’Ivoire to develop a programme appears to be an ideal environment for Tri- to identify and address these risks and choderma survival since it includes availa- develop contingency plans so as to be ble moisture for extended periods of time Potential of Trichoderma prepared should an invasion occur. and nutrients originating from several • in cocoa disease biocontrol The Côte d’Ivoire meeting highlighted the sources including decaying flowers, other need for rapid action, and for the knowl- associated decaying plant material, and Côte d’Ivoire meeting on edge and tools to facilitate this. The next perhaps most importantly, other fungi. These other fungi may be weak pathogens • invasive threats to cocoa article, based on a review in the journal Biological Invasions, describes innovations that limit flowering and fruit set but may in DNA-based monitoring tools and how also serve as food for Trichoderma. It is DNA tools for monitoring these are or could be used in cocoa. unclear if this capability is sufficient to jus- tify biocontrol applications by farmers, but • diseases We end the issue with a story of recovery the capability of Trichoderma to colonise from Central America. The indigenous Maya flower cushions and enhance flowering people of Belize have been growing cocoa and pod set has one obvious advantage. Organic cocoa: growth of a for centuries using traditional methods. Fol- In some locations it may be possible to • new Maya empire lowing disasters brought about by world increase fruiting by a limited number of markets, climate and disease, links forged applications applied over a narrow time with the UK company Green & Black’s have period: the time of flowering. GRO-Cocoa No.12 2 December 2007 biocontrol functions or actions, we can these more complex formulations since seek to exploit that activity by adapting there are likely novel solutions to these methods to enhance it. potential negative impacts. The short answer to the questions posed It should be clear that the goal of formula- above is that we have every reason to tion is the establishment of large stable expect we can improve the efficacy of populations of Trichoderma on the cocoa biocontrol of cocoa diseases by Trichode- tissue surfaces (epiphytes, Figure 3A) or rma through formulation, isolate selec- inside the cocoa tissue (endophytes, Figure tion, and/or exploitation of Trichoderma’s 3B). This is important since it offers the unique activities. However there is work potential to limit the number of applica- to be done. We have studied only a few tions required to achieve the desired level interactions of literally hundreds possible. of disease control. If the Trichoderma dies The number of Trichoderma isolates exten- soon after application, it loses its potential sively field tested numbers only in the to effectively control disease and may tens and represent only a few of the many lead to the requirement for additional potential Trichoderma species available in applications. In the case of endophytic associations, Trichoderma is placed within Fig. 2. Trichoderma hamatum spore germination the collections of researchers. and growth after 24 h: growth in extract from cocoa the protected environment of the plant tis- stem (0.2% mucilage) and [inset] growth in water. To date very few formulations have been sues, an environment that certain isolates (Bryan Bailey) adequately tested. The majority of formu- of Trichoderma are specially adapted to and otherwise protecting the pod. The lations being used include surfactants as exploit for the mutual benefit of both the cuticle and waxy surface (Figure 1B) allow the only additives. Surfactants break down Trichoderma and the cocoa tree. Being a the pod to shed water, which is required the hydrophobic barriers that result in living thing, Trichoderma has the potential for the growth and development of both plant surfaces repelling water. The use of a to proliferate, spread, and colonise new tis- pathogens and Trichoderma. It is unclear if surfactant should result in the biocontrol sues as the tissues grow. This is an activity the available nutrients on the pod surface agent (Trichoderma) spreading uniformly not possessed by chemicals and may allow are capable of supporting the growth over the plant surface. Only limited testing a limited number of colonisation events necessary for colonisation by Trichoderma, has been carried out using formulation to colonise the entire pod. This is a driving especially in the time required after a bio- additives that serve as sources of nutrition force behind the excitement concerning control application. Yet, we know that fungi for Trichoderma, extend the wet period endophytic Trichoderma and to not try and do colonise pod surfaces. Both beneficial after application, or otherwise enhance take advantage of this seems short-sighted. and pathogenic fungi can be isolated from the biological activity of Trichoderma. For Persistent and pervasive colonisation may pods and the application of Trichoderma to Trichoderma to grow it must have nutrition not be required for biocontrol to work but cocoa pods under the appropriate condi- (Figure 2) and moisture/humidity. Inclusion it is unlikely to cause negative effects or tions results in colonisation. The difficulty is of nutritional additives can greatly increase require much additional effort. the growth of Trichoderma in a formulation. that events resulting in the establishment It is in the specialised endophytic associa- We also know that Trichoderma requires of a pathogen can result in the loss of the tions where the potential for Trichoderma moisture for at least several hours after entire pod, and in some cases the entire as a biocontrol agent enters a new area application if it is to grow and colonise crop. In contrast, successful colonisation of disease control mechanism. While on cocoa tissues, yet most liquid formulations events by Trichoderma may protect only a the cocoa tissue surface, Trichoderma can being used today would be expected to limited area around the initial inoculation function by mechanisms such as antibio- point and be insufficient to protect the pod dry soon after application to exposed sur- from subsequent infection and disease. faces such as pods. Under these conditions