First report of Moniliophthora roreri causing frosty pod rot on Theobroma cacao in Jamaica

Abstract

Frosty pod rot (FPR), caused by the basidiomycete Moniliophthora roreri, is a devastating disease of cacao. First discovered in Ecuador in 1917, FPR is present in the main cacao producing countries of Southern and Central America, except Brazil (López & Enríquez, 1980; Evans, 2016) but it has not been previously reported in the Caribbean. In August 2016, unusual symptoms were observed on cacao pods on farms in Crooked River located in the parish of Clarendon in Jamaica. Examination of affected pods and fungal spores by officers of the Research and Development Division (Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries) led to a tentative diagnosis of FPR