VIEW ARTICLE

The Survival of Phytophthora palmivora in a Cacao Plantation during the Dry Season. Peter T. Onesirosan, Lecturer, Department of Plant Science, University of Ife, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, Present address: Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706; Phytopathology 61:975-977. Accepted for publication 15 March 1971. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-61-975.

A simple technique for estimating the inoculum potential of Phytophthora palmivora in soil is described. By the use of this method, it was shown that the fungus survived in soil throughout the dry season, lending support to the theory that the soil is an important source of primary inoculum for the black pod disease of cacao. The fungus was also detected in decaying leaves, twigs, pod pieces, and living and dead rootlets of Theobroma cacao. The survival of P. palmivora in infected pods left hanging on the trees fell to zero within 8 weeks, whereas infected pods contacting the soil contained viable fungus throughout the season.