Home • Moniliophthora perniciosa FA553
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Spores released from the fan-shaped basidiocarp of this inch-wide Moniliophthora perniciosa mushroom can infect cacao trees and drastically reduce yields of the beans from which cocoa and chocolate products are made. Photo by Scott Bauer. Source: wikipedia

The genome sequence and gene predictions of Moniliophthora perniciosa were not determined by the JGI, but were downloaded from NCBI and have been published (Jorge MC Mondego et al., 2008). Please note that this copy of the genome is not maintained by the author and is therefore not automatically updated.

Moniliophthora perniciosa, previously known as Crinipellis perniciosa (Singer) Stahel, is a hemibiotrophic basidiomycete (Tricholomataceae, Agaricales, Marasmiaceae) fungus that causes Witches' broom disease (WBD) in cacao (Theobroma cacao L.). WBD and frosty pod rot (FPR), caused by Moniliophthora roreri, are the most devastating diseases of cacao in the Americas. Cacao production in southeastern Bahia, the main production area in Brazil, was severely affected by the introduction of WBD at the end of 1980's. This disease damaged Bahian agribusiness, caused major social problems and has contributed to the degradation of the Atlantic Rainforest ("Mata Atlântica"). This is because cacao producing areas, typically, maintained old-growth native tree species as shade for the cacao plantations, which were converted to pasture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Genome Reference(s)