250 COCOA 



CHAP. 



however, the name Diplodia has already become popular, 

 it has been thought better to retain it for this parasite 

 as well. 



The same parasite has often been found in different 

 countries on decaying cocoa fruits, and it has been 

 thought that it attacks not only the branches and the 

 stem, but also the fruits, causing a disease which is 

 called in the West Indies "brown rot of pods." This, 

 however, is not a well-established fact. At any rate it 

 is not easy to inoculate healthy fruits on the tree with 

 Diplodia, and when the present author has found 

 Diplodia in the field on diseased fruits, it could in 



FIG. 81. Fungus of the "die-back" disease (Diplodia cacaoicola). 



a, b, and c, Different forms of fructification of the parasite : a, the Diplodia ; b, the 

 Chaetodiplodia : and c, the Lasiodiplodia. The figures are cross-sections through the different 

 fructification or pycnidia (enlarged, a and b 115 times ; c, 18 times). 



d, Ripe Dlplwlia spores (enlarged 188 times). 



most cases be proved that the fruits had first been 

 attacked by the fungus of " black rot " of pods 

 (Phytophthora Faberi). Nevertheless, decaying fruits 

 form a source of infection, and as such they are 

 dangerous, just like dead wood or other decaying sub- 

 stance, on which Diplodia easily lives as a saprophyte. 



It has been found in Ceylon, the Federated Malay 

 States, and Surinam, that the Diplodia also attacks 

 the Para rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). 



The "die-back" often causes considerable loss in 

 the cocoa fields, especially in the case of neglected or 

 carelessly managed plantations. 



As the parasite is probably only able to penetrate 



