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Title: FIRST REPORT OF FROSTY POD ROT (= MONILIASIS DISEASE) CAUSED BY MONILIOPHTHORA RORERI ON CACAO IN BELIZE

Author
item PHILLIPS, W - COSTA RICA
item CAWICH, J - COSTA RICA
item GARNETT, W - BELIZE
item Aime, Mary

Submitted to: Plant Pathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/21/2005
Publication Date: 2/2/2006
Citation: Phillips, W., Cawich, J., Garnett, W., Aime, M.C. 2006. First report of frosty pod rot (= moniliasis disease) caused by Moniliophthora roreri on cacao in Belize. Plant Pathology 55:584. (Doi:10.1111/j.1365-3059.2006.01378.x)

Interpretive Summary: Cocoa is a tropical tree crop that forms the basis for the multibillion dollar chocolate industry in the United States. One of the most devastating diseases of cocoa in tropical America is known as frosty pod rot caused by the fungus, Moniliophthora roreri. Originating in northern South America, this fungus has gradually been moved northward. This research reports the discovery of the fungus causing frosty pod rot on five farms in Belize where the disease incidence was estimated at 60%. Based on the disease distribution in a farm where the disease was detected in September, 2004, it was estimated that the fungus had been present for at least six months prior to its discovery. The identity of the causal fungus was confirmed based on morphological characteristics and molecular sequence data. A specimen was deposited to voucher this discovery. This research is used by plant pathologists to track the recent northward distribution of frosty pod rot of cacao.

Technical Abstract: Moniliophthora roreri (Cif.) Evans et al. causes frosty pod rot (FPR), a highly destructive cacao disease restricted to tropical America. In Belize, the disease was detected in a small farm in the Maya Mopán Village, Stann Creek District in September 2004 and later on four additional farms. Characteristic disease symptoms included pod deformation, premature ripening, chocolate-colored pod lesions with creamy-colored mycelium becoming darker as the spores mature. Internal pod tissues showed the typical necrotic compact mass surrounded by a decayed watery substance. The presence of mummies (dehydrated/sporulated pods), the high disease incidence estimated at 60% of the pods, and the general distribution of FPR within the plantation suggests that the fungus arrived there at least six months prior to discovery. The fungus was grown in modified V8 medium for morphological corroboration. To further confirm the morphological identification, two regions of the nuclear ribosomal DNA repeat—internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and 28S large subunit (LSU)—were amplified and sequenced with fungal specific primers ITS1-F/ITS4 (ITS) and LSU4-B/LR6 as described in Aime & Phillips-Mora (2005). The sequences obtained (GenBank accessions DQ222927 and DQ222927) were identical (100% homologous) to those from other Central America countries that collectively denominate the Mesoamerican subgroup of this pathogen (Phillips-Mora & Aime, unpubl.). The causal agent was deposited within the U.S. National Fungus Collection (BPI) as MCA2954.