Abstract
CACAO plants (Theobroma cacao) infected with Marasmius perniciosus produce excessive and abnormal branching, a condition known as witch broom disease. It has been suggested by Brian1 that symptoms may be caused by the production of growth-stimulatory or auxin-like substances by the pathogen. The morphological effects of gibberellic acid sprayed on cacao seedlings suggested that the ‘brooming’ effect of M. perniciosus might be caused by the production in vivo of gibberellin-like compounds by the fungus (Nichols, unpublished data).
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References
Brian, P. W., Symp. Soc. Exp. Biol., 11, 166 (1957).
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DUDMAN, W., NICHOLS, R. Absence of Gibberellin-like Substances in Filtrates of Marasmius perniciosus Stahel (Witch Broom Disease of Cacao). Nature 183, 899–900 (1959). https://doi.org/10.1038/183899a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/183899a0
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