Cocoa black pod rot incidence across four ecotopes in Baracoa
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15517/d3b9a238Keywords:
Phytophthora palmivora, Theobroma cacao, vertical stratification, pathogenAbstract
Introduction. Black pod rot, caused by Phytophthora spp. reduces global cocoa production. In Baracoa, Cuba’s main cocoa-growing region, climatic conditions favor the development of this disease. Objective. To determine the incidence and the frequency of occurrence of cocoa black pod rot at different height ranges on Theobroma cacao trees across four ecotopes in cultivated areas of Baracoa, Cuba. Materials and methods. The research was conducted in May 2023. A total of 385 plants across ecotopes with different topography, drainage, humidity, and cocoa varieties were evaluated. Incidence was calculated as (infected trees/observed trees) × 100%, while the frequency of occurrence measured the distribution of infection across height ranges (0-1.5 m, 1.5-3 m, >3 m). The analysis included Pearson’s chi-square test, the Phi coefficient, and Z-tests with Bonferroni correction. Results. The overall incidence was 76.26%, with a significant difference between ecotopes (E1 = 83.33% and E4 = 65%; p = 0.036), showing a weak association (Phi = 0.087). Infection was concentrated at 1.5-3 m in height (60.31%), exceeding the 0-1.5 m (30.29%) and >3 m (27.15%) strata. Conclusions. The incidence of black pod rot in the cacao ecotopes of Baracoa was high. The highest incidence was recorded on west-facing slopes, indicating that topographic characteristics influence disease spread. The vertical distribution of the disease suggests that management practices modify the microclimate and favor pathogen development. Overall, topographic, environmental, and management-related factors contribute to disease dynamics.
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