The swollen shoot disease of cocoa tree is caused by a

Awekheed

10 years ago

Cacao swollen-shoot virus (CSSV) is a plant

pathogenic virus of the family Caulimoviridae

that primarily infects cacao trees. It decreases

cacao yield within the first year of infection,

and usually kills the tree within a few years.

Symptoms vary by strain, but leaf

discoloration, stem/root swelling, and die-back

generally occur. The virus is transmitted from

tree to tree by mealybug vectors. It was first

discovered in Ghana in 1936, and is currently

endemic in Togo, Ghana and Nigeria. [1] Over

200 million trees have already been claimed by

this disease, which has prompted Ghana to

launch the most ambitious and costly

eradication effort of any country in the world

against a viral plant disease. [1]

Sarah Inashi Bulus

11 years ago

no it's fungus