Epidemiology and management of cocoa moniliasis in Peru

Moniliasis, which is caused by Moniliophthora roreri, is a very important cocoa disease in Peru and can cause complete production losses. Because of disease importance and the lack of information regarding it, there were evaluated: i- disease spread, its geographical distribution, and losses it is being causing; ii- disease progress and the effect of climate variables on it; iii- the resistance of cocoa cultivars to the pathogen; and iv- the effects of diseased fruits removal, fungicides, and the combination fruit removal-resistance on moniliasis progress. The disease was first found in Peru in 1988 in Bagua region (Marañon); 1989 and 1990 in 48 and 85%, respectively, of localities sampled in Jaen-Bagua region; 1992 in Tingo Maria region (Huallaga); 1992 in Juanjui; 1993 in Tocache; 1994 in Pachitea Valley; 1995 in San Francisco region (Apurimac-Ene); 1997 in Satipo region (Perene-Ene); and 1998, in La Convención (Urubamba). Currently, moniliasis is found at the five major Peruvian cocoa producing regions, causing fruit losses between 19 to 100%. Considering intense trade and people movement in Peruvian border, there is a risk of introducing moniliasis on Brazil and Bolivia. In Tingo Maria region, from 1996 to 1999, the disease occurred throughout all the months. Infection peaks were detected, mostly from January to July, which coincided with high rainfall levels (October to April) and availability of inoculum and stage susceptible fruits (December to May). At the germplasm collection of the Universidad Nacional Agraria de la Selva (Tingo María) and at the nursery of the Cooperativa Agraria (Tocache), in 1997/98 and 1998/99, cultivar resistance to M. roreri was evaluated, by artificially inoculating fruits and by observing fruit reactions to natural inoculation under field conditions. At both places and inoculation conditions, 'ICS 95' was the most resistant cultivar to the pathogen. Weekly removals of diseased fruits were more efficient than biweekly removals in reducing disease incidence. Similarly either weekly removals or variable removals (weekly from December to May and biweekly from June to November) were more efficient in reducing disease incidence and increasing yield than biweekly removals. Variable removals should be recommended to growers. Moniliasis incidence was significantly lower with copper hydroxide, cuprous oxide or chlorotalonil than in control treatment. Differences regarding disease resistance were found in the tested cultivars. Less disease incidence and more yield were gotten in ICS 95 , which should be recommended to growers. stage susceptible fruits (December to May). At the germplasm collection of the Universidad Nacional Agraria de la Selva (Tingo María) and at the nursery of the Cooperativa Agraria (Tocache), in 1997/98 and 1998/99, cultivar resistance to M. roreri was evaluated, by artificially inoculating fruits and by observing fruit reactions to natural inoculation under field conditions. At both places and inoculation conditions, 'ICS 95' was the most resistant cultivar to the pathogen. Weekly removals of diseased fruits were more efficient than biweekly removals in reducing disease incidence. Similarly either weekly removals or variable removals (weekly from December to May and biweekly from June to November) were more efficient in reducing disease incidence and increasing yield than biweekly removals. Variable removals should be recommended to growers. Moniliasis incidence was significantly lower with copper hydroxide, cuprous oxide or chlorotalonil than in control treatment. Differences regarding disease resistance were found in the tested cultivars. Less disease incidence and more yield were gotten in 'ICS 95', which should be recommended to growers.