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They obtain vitroplants of cocoa resistant to the black pod

The pest Phytophthora palmivora produces zoospores that germinate and infect the underlying tissues of cocoa fruits, ultimately causing rot

They obtain vitroplants of cocoa resistant to the black pod
20 Jan 2022

Researchers from Cuba and Belgium obtained vitroplants of Theobroma cacao resistant to the plague Phytophthora palmivora (cob or black spot), the disease that most plagues peanut trees in the Archipelago and the world, after establishing a novel methodology with the use of efficient microorganisms in bud micrografting. The study, carried out in Laboratories of the universities of Havana and Free University of Brussels, demonstrated the bioprotective effect of Pseudomonas chlororaphis (strain CP07) against the harmful effects of the black pod on traditional cocoa genotypes, said Doctor of Science Yulien Miguelez Sierra, researcher at the University of Guantánamo. In the same way, he highlighted that the research on the efficient plant-pathogen-microorganism interaction is a contribution to the knowledge of the genetic diversity of the cocoa agroecosystem, which would contribute to the sustainable production of the grain in Cuba, from its incorporation into the comprehensive management strategy for the aforementioned pest. The black spot causes considerable damage to the cocoa plant, especially the fruit. It also affects grain production and quality, and can cause losses of up to 80 percent of the harvest. The most used control methods are chemicals, which are costly and harmful to the ecosystem. Due to its tribute to the socioeconomic development of the Guantanamo municipality of Baracoa, the largest producer of the aforementioned exportable item in Cuba, this research was worthy of the Annual Award for outstanding results in Science, Technology and Innovation of the year 2021, granted by the provincial delegation of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment.


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