Twig Blight and Pod Blackening of Cacao (<I>Thkobroma cacao</I> Linn.)

Abstract

Botryodiplodia theobrpmae Pat. is described as the cause of twig blight and pod blackening of Cacao (Tkeobroma cacaa Linn.) in Pattanaika Research Garden (Puri), Orissa State. The pathogen caused top dying of plants and also sporadic mortality and serioasly affected the fruit production. Pruning affected branches removal and destraction of diseased fruits and a propbylactic protection with a copper based fungicide are suggested to control the disease.