Witches' Broom Fungus, scientifically Moniliophthora perniciosa, is a fungus that causes witches' broom disease of the cacao tree, Theobroma cacao. The pathogen is currently limited to South America, Panama and the Caribbean, and it is one of the best-known cacao diseases, thought to have co-evolved with cacao in its center of origin.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Living or Extinct Scientific NameMoniliophthora perniciosa 2 Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Moniliophthora perniciosa
In Biome
Source Moniliophthora perniciosa (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Moniliophthora perniciosa (Wikipedia)Article textQuote, Article text
This pathogen is currently limited to South America, Panama and the Caribbean, and is perhaps one of the best-known cocoa diseases, thought to have co-evolved with cocoa in its centre of origin (first recorded in the Brazilian Amazon in 1785).
Sources
1. Witches' broom fungus (Moniliophthora perniciosa) (Wikipedia)
- present tense, currently limited to South America Panama Caribbean
Lead
Moniliophthora perniciosa (previously Crinipellis perniciosa) is a fungus that causes "witches' broom disease" (WBD) of the cocoa tree T. cacao.
View the Source2. Moniliophthora perniciosa (Wikipedia)
Section: Importance
This largely affects cocoa production in South American countries where their cash crop is cacao beans. In 1989, WBD was introduced to the cocoa producing state of Bahia of Brazil, where output diminished from 380,000 metric tons per year to 90,000 metric tons in the late 1990s.
Lead
Moniliophthora perniciosa
system statement
M. perniciosa evolved in the Amazon and its susceptible hosts are tropical plants located in rain forests.
In Biome: Tropical Rainforest, Section: Environment; begins "perniciosa evolved in the Amazon and its suscept"
perniciosa evolved in the Amazon and its susceptible hosts are tropical plants located in rain forests.
View the SourceGBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Moniliophthora perniciosa
GBIF Backbone TaxonomyChild Taxon Of: Agaricales, Taxon recordQuote, Child Taxon Of: Agaricales, Taxon record
"order": "Agaricales"
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.