Histology of witches broom caused in cacao theobroma cacao by crinipellis perniciosa
Calle, H.; Cook, A.A.; Fernando, S.Y.
Phytopathology 72(11): 1479-1481
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0031-949X
Accession: 005580687
Mycelium of C. perniciosa was found throughout the cortex, phloem, ray and pith of mature, green and dry witches'-brooms of cacao (T. cacao). The mycelia in green and dry brooms were composed of intercellular, uninucleate hyphae 4-9 .mu.m wide that were branched, sometimes distorted and swollen, and septate with conspicuous walls. Dry brooms contained granular mycelia composed of binucleate and often intracellular hyphae (2-8 .mu.m wide, with clamp connections) that originated by branching from a uninucleate mycelium. Host cells were in disarray in dry brooms, and uninucleate mycelium apparently were intermixed with host cells. No mycelium was found in healthy tissues to which brooms were attached. Arthrospores (6-7 .times. 5 .mu.m) were observed in dry brooms.