Abstract
The basidiomycete fungus Moniliophthora perniciosa is the etiological agent of the Witches' Broom Disease of cacao. This is a pathogen with hemibiotrophic life cycle, meaning that the infection occurs initially in the living tissue of the host (biotrophic phase), evolving later to the death of the affected tissue (necrotrophic phase). The infection can occur in branches, fruits, flower bu…