Witches' broom disease, caused by the fungus Moniliophthora perniciosa, has been a significant threat to cocoa crops in southern Bahia, Brazil, since the 1990s.
This disease has devastated cocoa production, leading to economic challenges for growers and affecting the chocolate industry at large.
Recent developments in cocoa cultivation have introduced two new cultivars that may offer resistance to this persistent disease, potentially changing the landscape for cocoa farmers.