Frosty pod

Frosty pod disease is a devastating fungal infection that affects cocoa trees and is caused by the fungus Moniliophthora roreri. The disease gets its name from the characteristic white, powdery appearance of the fungal spores on infected cocoa pods. The initial symptoms include water-soaked lesions on the pods, which later become covered with the white spore masses. Frosty pod disease can lead to a significant reduction in cocoa yields and the quality of cocoa beans, impacting the livelihoods of cocoa farmers. The fungus is highly contagious, spreading through windborne spores and rain splash. Management strategies involve a combination of cultural practices, such as pruning infected pods and maintaining shade levels, along with the use of fungicides and planting disease-resistant cocoa varieties.