Moniliophthora roreri completes its entire life cycle on the pods in the tree. Detection of infected pods and there removal is the real and only key to pest management. However, this must be accomplished at early warning signs. Infected pods have to be removed at the first sign of external symptoms before spores have been produced. Monilia Pod Rot is not difficult to scout since it is easily observed by conspicuous bumpy swellings on the pod surfaces. Within 12 days after noting the pod swellings, sporulation begins over the pod causing a tan discoloration; pods must be removed prior to spore formation and dispersal.
To monitor for Moniliophthora Pod Rot "sanitation sweeps" are made through the planting after pod set and should be continued on 7-10 day schedules. This is well within infected pod surface sporulation, which disperses spores throughout the trees during rainy periods. Pods are at high risk from Monilia infection for the first 90 days after fruit set. Pods infected during the cherelle period never produce beans. Field monitoring for sanitation is a critical IPM tool during this period. It is also important to keep survey crews on schedule.
Management Strategies:
Barros, N. O. 1982. Advances in the repression of Monilia pod rot in cacao. Pp. 401-405 in Proceedings of the 8th International Cocoa Research Conference, Cartagena, Colombia, 18-23 Oct., 1981. Cocoa Producers' Alliance, Lagos, Nigeria. (In Spanish, with summaries in English, French, and Portguese).
Caicedo, E. R. & A. Triana. (1995) Biological cycle of cocoa moniliasis Moniliophthora roreri (Cif. & Par) Evans in the department of Meta. Fitopatologia Colombiana. 18(1-2):101-106.
Campuzano, L. H. 1982. Effect of temperature and humidity on spore germination of Monilia roreri. Pp. 493-497 in Proceedings of the 8th International Cocoa Research Conference, Cartagena, Colombia, 18-23 Oct., 1981. Cocoa Producers' Alliance, Lagos, Nigeria. (In Spanish, with summaries in English, French, and Portguese).
Campuzano, L. H. 1982. Fluctuations in the spore population of Monilia roreri and their viability over a complete infection cycle. Pp. 425-428 in Proceedings of the 8th International Cocoa Research Conference, Cartagena, Colombia, 18-23 Oct., 1981. Cocoa Producers' Alliance, Lagos, Nigeria (In Spanish with summaries in English, French, and Portguese).
Cronshaw, D. K. 1979. Fungicide application together with cultural practices to control cocoa diseases caused by Crinipellis perniciosa, Monilia roreri, Phytophthora palmivora in Ecuador. Trop. Agric. 56(2): 165-170.
Desrosiers, R. and Suarez, C. 1974. Monilia roreri pod rot of cacao. Pp. 273-277 In Phytophthora Disease of Cocoa. (P. H. Gregory, ed.)
Edwards, D. F. 1978. Studies on the manipulation of the timing of crop maturity of cocoa in Ecuador in relation to losses from pod diseases. J. Hortic. Sci., 53 (3): 243-254.
Enriquez, G. A., Brenes, O. and Delgado, J. C. 1982. Development and impact of Monilia pod rot of cacao in Costa Rica. Pp. 375-380 in Proceedings of the 8th International Cocoa Research Conference, Cartagena, Colombia, 18-23 Oct., 1981. Cocoa Producers' Alliance, Lagos, Nigeria. (In Spanish with summaries in English, French, and Portuguese).
Enriquez C., G. A. and Suarez C., C. 1978. Monilia roreri disease of cocoa in Costa Rica. Turrialba, 28 (4): 339-340.
Evans, H. C., Stalpers, J. A., Samson, R. A. and Benny, G. L. 1978. On the taxonomy of Monilia roreri, an important pathogen of Theobroma cacao (Cacao). Can. J. Bot., 56(20): 2528-2532.
Flores, D., Galindo, J. J., and C. Ramirez. (1994) Preinfection process in cocoa fruits by Moniliophthora roreri. Revista de Biologia Tropical. 42 (Suppl. 2):39-49.
Flores, D., Ramirez, C., and J. J. Galindo. (1994) Ultrastructure of cocoa fruits (Theobroma cacao) of cultivars with contrasting susceptibility to Moniliophthora roreri. Revista de Biologia Tropical. 42 (Suppl. 2):29-37.
Fulton, R. H. 1989. The cacao disease trilogy: black pod, Monilia pod pot, and witches' broom. Plant Disease 73(7): 601-603.
Meza-Sanoja, C. 1973. Effect of Bellate and Cupravit on the control of moniliasis and water spot in cacao (Monilia roreri, vectors, Mecistorrhinus tripterus). Rev. Fac. Agron. Univ. Zulia. Maracaibo, 2(3): 87-94. (In Spanish with summary in English).
Meza-Sanoja, C. R. and Leon, V. 1972. Chemical control of Monilia roreri and water spot of cacao. In Zulia. Venez. Univ. Fac. Agron. Rev. Fac. Agron., 2(1): 17-29. (In Spanish with summary in English).
de Reyes, L. C. and Marin, C. 1982. Prospects and precautions in the use of Ridomil in the growing of cocoa. Pp. 527-530 in Proceedings of the 8th International Cocoa Research Conference, Cartagena, Colombia, 18-23 Oct., 1981. Cocoa Producers' Alliance, Lagos, Nigeria. (In Spanish, with summaries in English, French, Portguese).
de Reyes, L. D. and Marin, C. 1982. A method of evaluation of antisporulants to Moniliophthora roreri (Cif and Par) Evans. Pp. 429-431 in Proceedings of the International Cocoa Research Conference, Cartagena, Colombia, 18-23 Oct., 1981. Cocoa Producers' Alliance, Lagos, Nigeria. (In Spanish, with summaries in English, French, and Portguese).
de Sierraalta, S. L. and Hernandez, E. 1978. In vitro evaluation of fungicides for the control of Monilia roreri Cif & Par in cacao trees in Venezuela. Rev. Fac. Agron. Zulia. Venez. Univ. Maracaibo, La Facultad. 4(4): 280-303.
