Comparative studies on coconut lethal decline diseases from Caribbean and Africa
Palm lethal yellowing MLO (EPPO A1 quarantine pest) occurs in several countries of the western Caribbean region and other coconut lethal declines have been reported from the West African countries of Ghana (Cape St. Paul wilt), Cameroon (Kribi disease), Togo (Kaincop‚), Nigeria (Awka disease) and also from East Africa in Tanzania. So far, these coconut lethal decline diseases have been attributed to the same causal agent, palm lethal yellowing MLO. Comparative studies using DNA hybridization and PCR assays have shown the existence of genetic relationships between MLOs associated with coconut lethal decline diseases in the western Caribbean region and in Africa. But they also indicated that palm lethal yellowing MLO and lethal decline diseases MLOs, although very similar, are not genetically identical pathogens.
Sources
Harrison, N.A.; Richardson, P.A.; Jones, P.; Tymon, A.M.; Eden-Green, S.J.; Mpunami, A.A. (1994) Comparative investigation of MLOs associated with Caribbean and African coconut lethal decline diseases by DNA hybridization and PCR assays. Plant Disease, 78 (5), 507-511.