Organic Cocoa Industry

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Organic Cocoa Industry 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
Recommended publications
  • 1471-2164-15-164.Pdf
    Meinhardt et al. BMC Genomics 2014, 15:164 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/15/164 RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access Genome and secretome analysis of the hemibiotrophic fungal pathogen, Moniliophthora roreri, which causes frosty pod rot disease of cacao: mechanisms of the biotrophic and necrotrophic phases Lyndel W Meinhardt1*, Gustavo Gilson Lacerda Costa2, Daniela PT Thomazella3, Paulo José PL Teixeira3, Marcelo Falsarella Carazzolle2, Stephan C Schuster4, John E Carlson5, Mark J Guiltinan6, Piotr Mieczkowski7, Andrew Farmer8, Thiruvarangan Ramaraj8, Jayne Crozier9, Robert E Davis10, Jonathan Shao10, Rachel L Melnick1, Gonçalo AG Pereira3 and Bryan A Bailey1 Abstract Background: The basidiomycete Moniliophthora roreri is the causal agent of Frosty pod rot (FPR) disease of cacao (Theobroma cacao), the source of chocolate, and FPR is one of the most destructive diseases of this important perennial crop in the Americas. This hemibiotroph infects only cacao pods and has an extended biotrophic phase lasting up to sixty days, culminating in plant necrosis and sporulation of the fungus without the formation of a basidiocarp. Results: We sequenced and assembled 52.3 Mb into 3,298 contigs that represent the M. roreri genome. Of the 17,920 predicted open reading frames (OFRs), 13,760 were validated by RNA-Seq. Using read count data from RNA sequencing of cacao pods at 30 and 60 days post infection, differential gene expression was estimated for the biotrophic and necrotrophic phases of this plant-pathogen interaction. The sequencing data were used to develop a genome based secretome for the infected pods. Of the 1,535 genes encoding putative secreted proteins, 1,355 were expressed in the biotrophic and necrotrophic phases.
    [Show full text]
  • In Review14 Contents
    CABI in review14 contents Foreword from the Chair 3 Foreword from the CEO 4 CABI’s mission 6 Putting know-how into people’s hands 8 Supporting Global Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition 9 Improving lives with mobile information 11 Educating the next generation of crop experts 14 Helping farmers to trade more of what they sow 16 Protecting commodities, safeguarding livelihoods 17 Increasing African trade with plant biosecurity 20 Bringing science from the lab to the field 22 Plantwise goes from strength to strength 23 Fostering innovation in soil health to change lives 28 Tackling poverty with AIV seed innovation 31 Combating threats to agriculture and the environment 34 Invasive species, the threat to livelihoods 35 Coffee and climate change: the future has arrived 40 Thank you 44 Financials 46 CABI staff 49 Staff publications 50 www VIDEO LINK (WILL TAKE YOU TO AN EXTERNAL WEB PAGE) WEB LINK (WILL TAKE YOU TO AN EXTERNAL WEB PAGE) BOOK CHAPTER LINK (WILL TAKE YOU TO SEPERATE PDF) 2 | CABI IN REVIEW 2014 Foreword from the Chair I am delighted to report another year of strong performance, both financially and operationally, and am proud to be leaving an even healthier organization than the one I joined in 2009. Over that five year period, CABI has achieved significant growth of close to 50% in revenue and increased operating surplus by £1.5m, despite difficult economic conditions. We have continued strong profit performance from Publishing with a second year of small surplus from International Development. Furthermore, our donors, members and stakeholders increasingly recognize the value delivered by the organization; staff morale and motivation is high; and the Board is working positively and collaboratively with management.
    [Show full text]
  • Chocolate Under Threat from Old and New Cacao Diseases
    Phytopathology • 2019 • 109:1331-1343 • https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-12-18-0477-RVW Chocolate Under Threat from Old and New Cacao Diseases Jean-Philippe Marelli,1,† David I. Guest,2,† Bryan A. Bailey,3 Harry C. Evans,4 Judith K. Brown,5 Muhammad Junaid,2,8 Robert W. Barreto,6 Daniela O. Lisboa,6 and Alina S. Puig7 1 Mars/USDA Cacao Laboratory, 13601 Old Cutler Road, Miami, FL 33158, U.S.A. 2 Sydney Institute of Agriculture, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, the University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia 3 USDA-ARS/Sustainable Perennial Crops Lab, Beltsville, MD 20705, U.S.A. 4 CAB International, Egham, Surrey, U.K. 5 School of Plant Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, U.S.A. 6 Universidade Federal de Vic¸osa, Vic¸osa, Minas Gerais, Brazil 7 USDA-ARS/Subtropical Horticultural Research Station, Miami, FL 33131, U.S.A. 8 Cocoa Research Group/Faculty of Agriculture, Hasanuddin University, 90245 Makassar, Indonesia Accepted for publication 20 May 2019. ABSTRACT Theobroma cacao, the source of chocolate, is affected by destructive diseases wherever it is grown. Some diseases are endemic; however, as cacao was disseminated from the Amazon rain forest to new cultivation sites it encountered new pathogens. Two well-established diseases cause the greatest losses: black pod rot, caused by several species of Phytophthora, and witches’ broom of cacao, caused by Moniliophthora perniciosa. Phytophthora megakarya causes the severest damage in the main cacao producing countries in West Africa, while P. palmivora causes significant losses globally. M. perniciosa is related to a sister basidiomycete species, M.
    [Show full text]
  • Cacao Diseases in the Americas: Myths and Misnomers Harry C
    Cacao Diseases in the Americas: Myths and Misnomers Harry C. Evans CAB International, Egham, Surrey, UK he catalyst for this article was a centres of evolution of cacao arose– recent report in FUNGI relating now finally debunked thanks to DNA to a fungal foray in Amazonian fingerprinting (Motamayor et al., 2008)– TEcuador (Evans and Winkler, 2011). which even spawned the idea that an Passing mention was made of the endemic subspecies had evolved there; fungi attacking cacao pods: “The main depicted in Mayan reliefs as vine-like pathogen is Monilia, a powdery mildew plants (Thorold, 1975). fungus that is spread by insects.” Such After the conquest of Mexico, the a confusion of both mycological and Spanish were quick to appreciate the pathological facts only adds to the commercial and culinary value of continuing myths and misnomers cacao and introduced it into Europe surrounding this disease (frosty pod and, by the 17th century, fashionable rot), as well as to the more infamous chocolate houses–the forerunners of witches’ broom disease, and the causal gentleman’s clubs–were springing up agents. This warranted a response and in London. However, the product was a clarification of the status of two fungi not as we know chocolate today, and which have changed the history of cacao it was not until the 19th century that cultivation in the Americas, along with the process of extracting cacao butter the inevitable and incalculable socio- and adding milk was perfected and, as economic impacts. Indeed, they could they say, the rest is history (Grivetti play an even more pivotal role on the and Shapiro, 2009).
    [Show full text]
  • Witch's Broom and Frosty Pods: Threats to World Cacao Production
    Witches’Witches’ broomsbrooms andand frostyfrosty pods:pods: threatsthreats toto worldworld cacaocacao productionproduction Gareth W Griffith University of Aberystwyth, UK On several occasions, witches’ broom disease (WBD) has wrought havoc in the cacao industry of the New World. Frosty pod disease (FPD) is an equally devastating pathogen of cacao. It is not just our supply of chocolate that is at stake – people are losing their livelihoods. Cacao (Theobroma cacao L. [theo-broma = food of the gods]) The cultivation and consumption of cacao was wide- is a major cash crop in the moist tropics, grown mainly in spread in South and Central America in pre-Columbian West Africa, South America and South East Asia. With grow- times (including Amazonian cultures such as the ing demand for chocolate and cocoa-containing products, Yanomami), with the beans even used as currency by the cacao production has risen steadily.West Africa (Côte d’Ivoire, Aztecs. The Spanish adapted the original chocolatl drink by Ghana, Nigeria, and Cameroon) continues to be the main addition of sugar and spices, and its bitter taste and stimu- region for world cacao production with almost 70% of world lant effect (due to alkaloid theobromine) became popular supply. Indonesia is the main Asian producer having grown throughout Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries. in production very rapidly in the 1980s and 1990s, masking After Cortes’ conquest of the Aztecs, cacao plantations had a decline in Brazilian production since WBD took hold there. spread to the Spanish colonies in the Caribbean (Jamaica), New plantings and rejuvenation of old farms are taking the Far East (Philippines) and South America (Ecuador).
    [Show full text]
  • Molecular Characterization of Moniliophthora Roreri
    MOL2NET, 2019, 5, ISSN: 2624-5078 1 http://sciforum.net/conference/mol2net-05 MOL2NET, International Conference Series on Multidisciplinary Sciences MDPI I International Biotechnology Congress, UDLA, Quito, Ecuador, 2019 Molecular characterization of Moniliophthora roreri, causative agent of moniliasis in cocoa in three provinces of Ecuador: Los Ríos, Manabí and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas Mollocana, D.a, Erazo, MP.a, Aguirre,X.a, Torres, ML.a a Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ. Laboratorio de Biotecnología Vegetal, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales. EC170157, Quito, Ecuador. Graphical Abstract Abstract. Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L) is one of the main agricultural products of Ecuador. However, it is susceptible to diseases and pests being those of fungal origin, the most common [1]. Black sheath Cacao cobs infected with moniliasis caused by Phytophthora sp., the witch's broom caused by Moniliophthora perniciosa, and moniliasis caused by Moniliophthora roreri are the most reported conditions. Moniliasis is M. roreri growth. in culture medium V8 and microscopic view considered the most destructive than all diseases of the culture (1000x magnification). that affect this crop [2]. M.roreri manifests itself on the cob of the plant and presents two phases of infection: the biotrophic where it can be seen malformations in the fruit, and the necrotic where rot and death of the fruit occur [3]. The spore masses break off the fungus pseudostroma and move by different mechanisms (wind, humans, animals, and water) [4]. The climatic conditions and the amount of free spores are determinants in the life cycle of this pathogen [5]. Nevertheless, the fungus is Phylogenetic Tree constructed from the M.
    [Show full text]
  • Studies of Neotropical Tree Pathogens in Moniliophthora: a New Species, M. Mayarum, and New Combinations for Crinipellis Ticoi and C
    A peer-reviewed open-access journal MycoKeys 66: 39–54 (2020)Studies of Neotropical tree pathogens in Moniliophthora 39 doi: 10.3897/mycokeys.66.48711 RESEARCH ARTICLE MycoKeys http://mycokeys.pensoft.net Launched to accelerate biodiversity research Studies of Neotropical tree pathogens in Moniliophthora: a new species, M. mayarum, and new combinations for Crinipellis ticoi and C. brasiliensis Nicolás Niveiro1,2, Natalia A. Ramírez1,2, Andrea Michlig1,2, D. Jean Lodge3, M. Catherine Aime4 1 Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (IBONE), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET). Sargento Cabral 2131, CC 209 Corrientes Capital, CP 3400, Argentina 2 Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Av. Libertad 5470, Corrientes Capital, CP 3400, Argentina 3 Department of Plant Pathology, University of Geor- gia, Athens, GA 30606, USA 4 Department of Botany & Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907-2054, USA Corresponding author: Nicolás Niveiro ([email protected]); D. Jean Lodge ([email protected]); M. Catherine Aime ([email protected]) Academic editor: D. Schigel | Received 22 November 2019 | Accepted 24 February 2020 | Published 30 March 2020 Citation: Niveiro N, Ramírez NA, Michlig A, Lodge DJ, Aime MC (2020) Studies of Neotropical tree pathogens in Moniliophthora: a new species, M. mayarum, and new combinations for Crinipellis ticoi and C. brasiliensis. MycoKeys 66: 39–54. https://doi.org/10.3897/mycokeys.66.48711 Abstract The crinipelloid genera Crinipellis and Moniliophthora (Agaricales, Marasmiaceae) are characterized by basidiomes that produce long, dextrinoid, hair-like elements on the pileus surface. Historically, most species are believed to be saprotrophic or, rarely, parasitic on plant hosts.
    [Show full text]
  • A Renaissance in Plant Growth- Promoting and Biocontrol Agents By
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by ICRISAT Open Access Repository A Renaissance in Plant Growth- Promoting and Biocontrol Agents 3 by Endophytes Rajendran Vijayabharathi , Arumugam Sathya , and Subramaniam Gopalakrishnan Abstract Endophytes are the microorganisms which colonize the internal tissue of host plants without causing any damage to the colonized plant. The benefi - cial role of endophytic organisms has dramatically documented world- wide in recent years. Endophytes promote plant growth and yield, remove contaminants from soil, and provide soil nutrients via phosphate solubili- zation/nitrogen fi xation. The capacity of endophytes on abundant produc- tion of bioactive compounds against array of phytopathogens makes them a suitable platform for biocontrol explorations. Endophytes have unique interaction with their host plants and play an important role in induced systemic resistance or biological control of phytopathogens. This trait also benefi ts in promoting plant growth either directly or indirectly. Plant growth promotion and biocontrol are the two sturdy areas for sustainable agriculture where endophytes are the key players with their broad range of benefi cial activities. The coexistence of endophytes and plants has been exploited recently in both of these arenas which are explored in this chapter. Keywords Endophytes • PGP • Biocontrol • Bacillus • Piriformospora • Streptomyces 3.1 Introduction Plants have their life in soil and are required for R. Vijayabharathi • A. Sathya • S. Gopalakrishnan (*) soil development. They are naturally associated International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) , with microbes in various ways. They cannot live Patancheru 502 324 , Telangana , India alone and hence they release signal to interact with e-mail: [email protected] microbes.
    [Show full text]
  • Saprotrophic Proteomes of Biotypes of the Witches' Broom
    Aberystwyth University Saprotrophic proteomes of biotypes of the witches’ broom pathogen Moniliophthora perniciosa Pierre, Sandra; Griffith, Gareth; Morphew, Russell; Mur, Luis; Scott, Ian Published in: Fungal Biology DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2017.05.004 Publication date: 2017 Citation for published version (APA): Pierre, S., Griffith, G., Morphew, R., Mur, L., & Scott, I. (2017). Saprotrophic proteomes of biotypes of the witches’ broom pathogen Moniliophthora perniciosa. Fungal Biology, 121(9), 743-753. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2017.05.004 General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the Aberystwyth Research Portal (the Institutional Repository) are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. • Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the Aberystwyth Research Portal for the purpose of private study or research. • You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain • You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the Aberystwyth Research Portal Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. tel: +44 1970 62 2400 email: [email protected] Download date: 09. Jul. 2020 Accepted Manuscript Saprotrophic proteomes of biotypes of the witches’
    [Show full text]
  • Incoped Workshop 5 Proceedin
    International Permanent Working Group for Cocoa Pests and Diseases Secretariat Chairman: Dr. J. L. Pereira, CEPEC/CEPLAC, Brazil, 2000-2006 Vice Chairman: Andrews Y. Akrofi, CRIG, Ghana, 2003-2006 Secretary: Dr. Jacques Hubert Charles Delabie (Brazil) Treasurer: Georges J. Blaha (presently in Papua New Guinea) Sub-Regional Co-ordinators: African: Dr. I.B. Kebe, CNRA, Côte d’Ivoire Americas: Dr. J.L. Pereira, CEPEC/CEPLAC, Brazil South East Asia: Dr. I. Azhar, Malaysian Cocoa Board Local Organising Committee of INCOPED 5th International Seminar Advisors: J.L. Pereira, CEPEC/CEPLAC, Brazil A.Y. Akrofi, CRIG, Ghana Chairperson: Dr. Urlike Krauss, CABI Bioscience, Trinidad and Tobago Secretary: Dr. G. Martijn ten Hoopen, CATIE/CATIE, Costa Rica Tresurer: Mirjam Bekker, CABI/CATIE, Costa Rica Secretarial staff: Margarita Alvarado, CATIE, Costa Rica Celia López, CATIE, Costa Rica Funds for publication of this proceedings were provided by the World Cocoa Foundation. INCOPED 5th International Seminar on Cocoa Pests and Diseases held on 15th -17th October, 2006 in San Jose, Costa Rica was jointly organized by CATIE and INCOPED. This proceedings was published in 2007 by the INCOPED Secretariat Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana P. O. Box 8 Akim Tafo, Ghana. Tel: (+233 22029/ 23039/ 22040) Fax: (+233 277900029) Copyright © INCOPED 2007 ISBN 9988-0-2250-6 Citation: Proceedings of INCOPED 5th Int. Seminar, 15-17th Oct., 2006, San Jose, Costa Rica. Edited by Akrofi, A.Y and Baah, F. Opinions expressed in the proceedings are not necessarily those of the organizers (CATIE and INCOPED) of the Seminar or those of the authors’ affiliations. Mention of any products in the proceedings does not indicate endorsement or discrimination of the products.
    [Show full text]
  • Frosty Pod Rot a C E D B D E
    Frosty Pod Rot MONILIOPHTHORA RORERI, B FUNGI: BASIDIOMYCOTA: AGARICOMYCETES A INTRODUCTION D Frosty pod rot (FPR) is a disease of cocoa caused by the E fungus Moniliophthora roreri, which develops only on the pods of Theobroma sp. (cocoa) and Herrania sp. The disease C was originally confined to Central and South America until it B was confirmed in Jamaica in August, 2016. FPR can be C extremely devastating, leading to 80-90% loss in unmanaged/ minimally managed fields. The disease is named “Frosty” due to the development of a mass of white spores on the pod that look like frosting on a cake. D DESCRIPTION E The casual fungus only grows on the pods of the susceptible host plant. In the field, the most characteristic stage of infection is the second to last stage where all major symptoms are visible on one pod (Fig. 1). Figure 1: Cocoa pod showing characteristic stage of Frosty Pod The major symptoms, developed in sequence, of FPR infection Rot of cocoa. A. Part of the original pod remains unchanged, B. on cocoa pods are: the development of bumps (Fig. 2)/ Signs of premature ripening (yellow ‘halo’ around lesion), C. abnormal swelling of the pods (Fig. 3), premature/irregular Dark-brown, sunken and ‘wet’ lesion D. Mat of spores (white to ripening of pods, development of dark brown ‘wet’ sunken grey in colour) and E. Bulge in pod (abnormal swelling) irregular lesions (Fig. 4), hardening and discolouration of internal flesh and beans/seeds, beans are liquid or jelly internally (Fig. 5), the development of a thick (2 mm-3 mm) mass of white/cream spores on the lesion and finally the mummification of the pod (Fig.
    [Show full text]
  • Possesses Biallelic a and B Mating Loci but Reproduces Clonally
    Heredity (2016) 116, 491–501 & 2016 Macmillan Publishers Limited All rights reserved 0018-067X/16 www.nature.com/hdy ORIGINAL ARTICLE The cacao pathogen Moniliophthora roreri (Marasmiaceae) possesses biallelic A and B mating loci but reproduces clonally JR Díaz-Valderrama and MC Aime The cacao pathogen Moniliophthora roreri belongs to the mushroom-forming family Marasmiaceae, but it has never been observed to produce a fruiting body, which calls to question its capacity for sexual reproduction. In this study, we identified potential A (HD1 and HD2) and B (pheromone precursors and pheromone receptors) mating genes in M. roreri. A PCR-based method was subsequently devised to determine the mating type for a set of 47 isolates from across the geographic range of the fungus. We developed and generated an 11-marker microsatellite set and conducted association and linkage disequilibrium s (standardized index of association, IA ) analyses. We also performed an ancestral reconstruction analysis to show that the ancestor of M. roreri is predicted to be heterothallic and tetrapolar, which together with sliding window analyses support that the A and B mating loci are likely unlinked and follow a tetrapolar organization within the genome. The A locus is composed of a pair of HD1 and HD2 genes, whereas the B locus consists of a paired pheromone precursor, Mr_Ph4, and receptor, STE3_Mr4. Two A and B alleles but only two mating types were identified. Association analyses divided isolates into two well-defined s genetically distinct groups that correlate with their mating type; IA values show high linkage disequilibrium as is expected in clonal reproduction.
    [Show full text]