Colletotrichum gloeosporioides s.l. causes an outbreak of anthracnose of cacao in Ghana

Outbreak of anthracnose of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.), covering an estimated total growing area of 248.47 hectares, occurred in parts of Ghana from July to October 2019. Disease samples were collected from the outbreak areas to isolate and identify the pathogen and establish its pathogenicity. Disease symptoms appeared on leaves as dark brown patches with yellow halo margins. Colletotrichum gloeosporioides s.l. was isolated from infected plant tissues and pathogenicity tests confirmed it as the causative agent. The disease was widespread in the Prestea-Huni Valley district of the Western Region, particularly in the Yareyeya community, where a 14.8-hectare farm was seriously affected. Anthracnose has long been known as a sporadic but minor disease of cacao in Ghana. The current shift in status and rapid spread of the disease from infected farms to new farms, though it may or may not be contiguous, cannot be readily explained. Application of copper fungicides, namely Nordox 75 WG (86% cuprous oxide), Champion (77% cupric hydroxide) and Royal Cop 50 WP (77% copper hydroxide) at 75 g, 100 g and 100 g, respectively, each in 15 litres of water, at 2-week intervals for four months, effectively managed the disease.