A sudden and widespread change in symptoms and incidence of vascular streak dieback of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) linked to environmental change in Sulawesi, Indonesia

Bryceson, Susanna R.; Morgan, John; McMahon, Peter; Keane, P. J.

doi:10.1016/j.agee.2023.108466

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Cacao farms may eventually be completely destroyed as a result of VSD. Numerous factors, such as host vulnerability, cultural behaviours, and environmental conditions, all affect the incidence of this disease [15]. Since VSD can cause significant financial losses for cocoa producers and decrease the quality of their beans, understanding and controlling the disease's occurrence is essential for the sustainable production of cacao.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These fungi cause dieback by attacking the cocoa tree's vascular system. Weather extremes, such as extended droughts, heavy rains, or dramatic temperature swings, may harm trees and increase their susceptibility to VSD diseases [15]. Inadequate pest and disease control, improper pruning methods, or excessive fertilizer or pesticide use are just a few examples of poor agricultural practices that can damage trees and hasten the emergence of VSD [3,16].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Traits of farming practice affecting vascular streak dieback disease on cacao in Central Sulawesi

Edy,

Hamid,

Lakani

et al. 2024

IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci.

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Vascular streak dieback (VSD) caused by the basidiomycete Ceratobasidium theobromae is one of the most important cocoa diseases in Central Sulawesi, causing branch dieback with an infection can kill seedlings and mature trees on susceptible cocoa varieties. This objective of this study is to examine the disease incidence of VSD in cacao in the field, determine the factors that influence the disease, and distinguish the characteristics of cocoa stomata from healthy plants and those infected with C. theobromae. All environmental variables tested were rainfall, wind speed, temperature, elevation, fertilizer; insecticide, herbicide, and fungicide applied; pruning, age of cacao trees, number of trees per plot (population); agricultural farming systems (monoculture or polyculture) sanitation of the plantation, number of stomata, diameter stomata, stomatal density. This study was carried out at the cacao plantations in center of cocoa plantation in Central Sulawesi districts by using generalized linear models. The study showed that C. theobromae infected all of the plantations on the study sites selected. Off all variable tested, fungicide, sanitation, number of stomata and the density of stomata were the significantly influence the disease incidence of VSD in cocoa plantation.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Traits of farming practice affecting vascular streak dieback disease on cacao in Central Sulawesi

Edy,

Hamid,

Lakani

et al. 2024

IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci.

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Isolation, genome analysis and tissue localization of Ceratobasidium theobromae, a new encounter pathogen of cassava in Southeast Asia

Gil-Ordóñez,

Pardo,

Sheat

et al. 2024

Sci Rep

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In Southeast Asia (SEA) fastidious fungi of the Ceratobasidium genus are associated with proliferation of sprouts and vascular necrosis in cacao and cassava, crops that were introduced from the tropical Americas to this region. Here, we report the isolation and in vitro culture of a Ceratobasidium sp. isolated from cassava with symptoms of witches’ broom disease (CWBD), a devastating disease of this crop in SEA. The genome characterization using a hybrid assembly strategy identifies the fungus as an isolate of the species C. theobromae , the causal agent of vascular streak dieback of cacao in SEA. Both fungi have a genome size > 31 Mb (G+C content 49%), share > 98% nucleotide identity of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) and > 94% in genes used for species-level identification. Using RNAscope® we traced the pathogen and confirmed its irregular distribution in the xylem and epidermis along the cassava stem, which explains the obtention of healthy planting material from symptom-free parts of a diseased plant. These results are essential for understanding the epidemiology of CWBD, as a basis for disease management including measures to prevent further spread and minimize the risk of introducing C. theobromae via long-distance movement of cassava materials to Africa and the Americas.

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Cocoa production in the 2020s: challenges and solutions

Kongor,

Owusu,

Oduro-Yeboah

2024

CABI Agric Biosci

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Background Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) is a crop of huge economic significance worldwide and is grown mainly in tropical and subtropical countries. Currently, West Africa produces most of the world's cocoa. The crop provides economic support to cocoa-growing countries, smallholder farmers, and the chocolate confectionery industries. Cocoa is also valued for its appealing flavours and the health-promoting properties of the bioactive phytochemicals in the beans, which have received increased global attention in recent years. Main body The cocoa industry is divided into two sectors: upstream (cocoa bean production and marketing), which is dominated by cocoa-producing countries, and downstream (cocoa bean processing activities to produce semi-finished and finished products). Pests and diseases, climate change, low soil fertility, high soil cadmium levels, and the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict threaten the crop's long-term production. In addition to these challenges, cocoa cultivation also contributes to environmental and biodiversity degradation. Conclusion To address these challenges and ensure a sustainable supply of high-quality cocoa beans to meet the rising global demand, sustainable intensification of its production in producing countries is deemed critical. These include breeding varieties that are resistant to yield-limiting factors, the use of integrated management strategies to improve soil fertility and control pests, diseases, and heavy metals like Cd, the implementation of agroforestry systems, increased farm gate prices, and the provision of social interventions such as alternative livelihoods for farmers to increase cocoa production on existing farmlands. Standardized and harmonized farm management and postharvest strategies are also required for the consistent production of high-quality beans each season.

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A sudden and widespread change in symptoms and incidence of vascular streak dieback of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) linked to environmental change in Sulawesi, Indonesia

Cited by 4 publications

References 42 publications

Traits of farming practice affecting vascular streak dieback disease on cacao in Central Sulawesi

Traits of farming practice affecting vascular streak dieback disease on cacao in Central Sulawesi

Isolation, genome analysis and tissue localization of Ceratobasidium theobromae, a new encounter pathogen of cassava in Southeast Asia

Cocoa production in the 2020s: challenges and solutions

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