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The Impact of Plant Diseases on World Chocolate Production

    Affiliations
    Authors and Affiliations
    • John H. Bowers
    • Bryan A. Bailey , Research Plant Pathologists, USDA, ARS, PSI Alternate Crops & Systems Lab, Beltsville, MD 20705
    • Prakash K. Hebbar , Senior Research Associate, M&M Mars, Inc. Research & Development, Beltsville, MD 20705
    • Soumaila Sanogo , Research Associate, Wye Research & Extension Center University of Maryland, Queenstown, MD 21658
    • Robert D. Lumsden , Plant Pathologist and Collaborator, USDA, ARS, PSI Alternate Crops & Systems Lab, Beltsville, MD 20705

      Many factors contribute to a decline in production of cocoa beans worldwide. Plant diseases such as black pod, witches' broom, and frosty pod rot are major components of the decline in production. Plant pathologists and microbiologists must discover and devise means to reduce disease losses and to save chocolate for the enthusiastic consumers of the world. This review discusses the major disease of cacao and their effect on world production.

      Accepted for publication 14 June 2001. Published 9 July 2001.