Mycobiota associated with anthracnose and dieback symptoms on Theobroma cacao L. in Mérida State, Venezuela

Abstract

Diverse fungi collected from symptomatic fruit, stem and branch tissues of Theobroma cacao in five T. cacao-producing localities or municipalities of Mérida State, Venezuela, were identified using both morphological methods and sequencing of multiple loci (ITS, LSU, SSU, TEF1, BTUB, RPB2). Cophinforma atrovirens, Lasiodiplodia brasiliensis and Hypoxylon investiens are reported for the first time on T. cacao in Venezuela. Fungi found in association with fruit anthracnose included Cophinforma atrovirens, Fusarium solani and F. oxysporum, whereas species associated with dieback or sudden death symptoms include Cophinforma atrovirens, L. theobromae, L. brasiliensis and H. investiens. All of the aforementioned fungi are considered putative pathogens of T. cacao, which warrant further pathogenicity tests.

Fungal Pathogens of Cacao in Puerto Rico

“…Members of the Curvularia, Cophinforma, and Nigrospora genera have been reported as members of the microbial community of cocoa beans during the fermentation process [51]. However, C. atrovirens has been reported to cause dieback and canker on numerous woody plants such as cashew [52] and was recently found to be associated with dieback of T. cacao in Venezuela [53]. If these organisms are obtained from additional diseased material in the future, pathogenicity studies should be conducted to assess the relative risk they pose.…”