Browsing by Author "Dzahini-Obiatey, H."

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    Early signs of infection in Cacao swollen shoot virus (CSSV) inoculated cocoa seeds and the discovery of the cotyledons of the resultant plants as rich sources of CSSV
    (2010) Dzahini-Obiatey, H.; Fox, R.T.V.
    Despite the huge efforts and funds expended to try and bring Cacao swollen shoot virus (CSSV) disease under control, the disease has remained largely intractable. Inspired by the need to inject new ideas into the current breeding programmes for CSSV resistance, the interactions between cocoa and the virus in CSSV-infected plants from 3 days post inoculation (dpi) to about 30 dpi were studied using both microscopic and molecular methods. Cellular modifications such as nucleic acid-rich inclusion bodies, apoptosis, and the in situ localisation of the virus in novel tissues that is cotyledons and hypocotyl, were discerned by microscopic examinations. These cellular modifications were observed in cotyledons of seedlings as young as 8 dpi. By validating these microscopic results using PCR it was also discovered that the cotyledons of the inoculated plants were virus-rich. CSSV was amplified or detected in total DNAs extracted from all 4 CSSV-isolates studied, and in some cases the detection was from as early as 3dpi plants. Compared to cocoa leaves, the traditional source from which CSSV or its DNA is usually extracted, the cotyledons were much easier to process and analyse. The significance of these findings to the CSSV-resistant breeding programmes, and to CSSV research in general is discussed.
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    Geographical Distribution of Cacao swollen shoot virus Molecular variability in Ghana
    (2017) Abrokwah, F.; Dzahini-Obiatey, H.; Osae-Awuku, F.; Muller, E.
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    Over seventy years of a viral disease of cocoa in Ghana: From researchers’ perspective
    (2010) Dzahini-Obiatey, H.; Owusu Domfeh; Amoah, F.M.
    Virus diseases have plagued cocoa (Theobroma cacao) production in West Africa for over seven decades. Principal among them is that caused by the cocoa swollen shoot virus (CSSV), which is endemic in Togo, Ghana and Nigeria, and more recently Cote d’Ivoire. The incidence of the disease in Ghana has led to the launch of the costliest and an over ambitious eradication control programme in the world. This review highlights the various research activities conducted mainly in Ghana that influenced the various control strategies as well as those that have the potential to influence future ones. Isolation of newly planted cocoa has been identified as an efficient method of reducing CSSV prevalence and spread in the field. Identification of mealybugs as vectors, the role of alternative host in the spread of the disease, the need for an urgent review of the eradication procedures, breeding specifically for resistance to CSSV as well as some biochemical and molecular biology studies are some of the points highlighted in this paper. The achievements and limitations made in these fields are duly emphasized. The way forward, however, will be to combine most of these strategies into a single or two integrated approaches to control cocoa swollen shoot virus disease (CSSVD). This will then be in tune with the suggestion that no single measure is adequate to solve the swollen shoot disease problem in Ghana, and the rest of West Africa.