Potential distribution and fundamental niche of Moniliophthora spp in cocoa of America and Africa

Abstract

Introduction. Moniliophthora spp. species are endemic from South America and infect America’s cocoa crops. Objetive. The objective of the study was to analyze the potential distribution and the fundamental niche of Moniliophthora roreri (Mr) and M. perniciosa (Mp) in America and Africa. Materials and methods. The occurrence records were obtained from a bibliographic review. Bioclimatic variables were used as predictors in the maximum entropy niche model (MaxEnt) and for its visualization in Niche Analyst 3.0. Results. The areas where Mr was most likely to occur were Esmeraldas and Los Ríos, Ecuador, coastal zones of Costa Rica, Santander and Antioquia of Colombia, and for Mp the States of Bahia and Acré of Brazil. The variables that most influenced the distribution of Mr are those associated with precipitation. Temperature-related conditions were more important in the Mp model. The risk of Mr invasion was identified in the Acre and Pará regions, Brazil. The transfer of the models evidenced the potential of Mr and Mp invasion in cocoa crops in Africa. The fundamental niche of pathogens and cocoa showed average similarity values, while the niche of fungal species showed a low similarity. Low pathogen niche similarity and differences in bioclimatic variables affecting pathogens distribution were related to a process of niche partitioning. Conclusion. Geographical regions with a greater potential distribution of pathogens and bioclimatic characteristics that would favor their probability of presence in America’s cocoa crops were identified. It is necessary to regulate the transport of contaminated plant material and equipment between regions to avoid the introduction of pathogens in healthy cocoa crops.