Witches' broom disease of cocoa <i>(Crinipettis perniciosa)</i> in Ecuador.

Resumen

SUMMARY Inoculation of cocoa with basidiospores of the witches' broom fungus Crinipellis perniciosa showed that stem, petiole and pulvinus tissues of unhardened flushes and also exposed wound surfaces were susceptible to infection in addition to the growing tip. Inoculation of flower cushions and young pods showed that carrot‐shaped pods were usually the result of fertilisation of systemically infected flowers. In the absence of fertilisation such flowers produced parthenocarpic pods or chirimoyas. Transmis‐sion of the fungus via infected beans was demonstrated and this may be a potent method of long‐distance dispersal.