Cocoa swollen shoot virus in Ghana: A review of diagnostic procedures

Abstract

A quick and more reliable diagnostic method has for a long time been identified as one input that will greatly enhance the control of the cocoa swollen shoot disease in Ghana. Many diagnostic procedures have been
developed for detecting the virus that causes the disease; yet, the detection of latent infections is still unpredictable. This paper reviews work done in
diagnosing swollen shoot disease to develop a quicker, more reliable, and cost-effective method that could be applicable in programmes for controlling cocoa swollen shoot disease. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
(ELISA), virobacterial agglutination tests (VBA), and other biochemical analyses have been discussed as diagnostic tools that could be developed to effectively replace the use of visible symptom expressions as the
only method for field detection of the disease.