A review of the Phytophthora pod rot disease situation in Ghana

Abstract

The presence of Phytophthora megakarya, which until 1985 was unknown in Ghana, has changed the status of black pod disease of cocoa in the country. Hitherto, only Phytophthora palmivora was known to be present. This paper reviews the Phytophthora pod disease situation, the origin, distribution, incidence and damage caused by P. palmivora and P. megakarya, the two known causal pathogens of black pod disease in Ghana. It also discusses attempts being made to address the problem in relation to the epidemiology of the disease.

JOURNAL OF THE GHANA SCIENCE ASSOCIATION Volume 2 No. 3 (2000) pp. 218-228