Theobroma cacao, a Host for Agrobacterium tumefaciens. L. H. Purdy, Plant Pathology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611. E. R. Dickstein, Plant Pathology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611. Plant Dis. 73:638-639. Accepted for publication 27 February 1989. Copyright 1989 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-73-0638.

Bacterial pathogens have not been reported in association with Theobroma cacao. However, three strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens isolated from chrysanthemum induced galls in seedling cacao plants grown in a greenhouse. Since T. cacao is thus a proven host for the crown gall bacterium, the Ti plasmid of A. tumefaciens may possibly be used as a vector for the introduction of selected DNA into cacao.

Keyword(s): cocoa crown gall.