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Title: TRICHODERMA STROMATICUM, SP. NOV.,A PARASITE OF THE CACAO WITCHES BROOM PATHOGEN

Author
item Samuels, Gary
item PARDO-SCHULTHEISS, REBECCA - FORMER USDA EMPLOYEE
item HEBBAR, P - VISITING SCIENTIST
item Lumsden, Robert
item BASTOS, C - BRAZIL
item COSTA, J - BRAZIL
item BEZERRA, J - BRAZIL

Submitted to: Mycological Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/23/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Cacao, the source of chocolate, is an important crop grown in South America. This plant is attacked by a fungus that causes a disease called "witches broom" and limits its growth in many areas. Control of this disease has been made possible by applying a fungus that attacks the plant pathogen. In this paper the biocontrol fungus is described using both morphological and molecular characteristics as a new species of Trichoderma. These results will be useful to agricultural scientists who are developing this fungus as a biocontrol agent to manage the witches broom disease of cacao.

Technical Abstract: The new species Trichoderma stromaticum was isolated from "Witches broom" of cacao (Theobroma cacao) in Brazil caused by Crinipellis perniciosa. The Trichoderma prevented the formation of new inoculum through the suppression of basidiomata formation. It is characterized by having colorless (white en masse) conidia and stout, 'Pachybasiuim-like' phialides formed on the surface of stromatic strucutres. The closest relations of T. stromaticum are T. harzxianum and T. virens.