Cacao swollen shoot disease
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Source: Wikimedia Commons
cacao swollen shoot disease (CSSD)
The cacao swollen shoot disease is a serious disease of cacao in western Africa. It is endemic in forest trees of that region and is transmitted by various species of mealybugs as well as through seeds. The symptoms of the disease include swelling of the shoots and roots as well as reddish leaves. Severe strains can kill cacao trees within 2 years. The disease is caused by viruses from the genus Badnavirus and the causal agent of the disease has long been referred to as "Cacao swollen shoot virus", but the disease is now known to be caused by several closely related viruses.
Taxonomic note
The name "Cacao swollen shoot virus (CSSV)" is no longer valid. Since 2015 other virus species, different from, but related to this virus have been described (e.g. see Chingandu et al., 2017). In 2018 Cacao swollen shoot virus has been renamed as "Cacao swollen shoot Togo B virus" (a member of the species Badnavirus etainflatheobromae) by the ICTV and articles published after 2018 and referring to the CSSV have been (are being) assigned to that species.
For a review of the disease see Marelli et al. (2019).
