Abstract
Witches' broom is one of the main diseases that occurs in cacao (Theobroma cacao), corresponding to one of the most limiting factors to cocoa production in South America. Moniliophthora perniciosa, the causal agent of the disease, is a basidiomycete with a hemibiotrophic lifestyle. Generally, hemibiotrophic fungal infection involves a transient and asymptomatic biotrophic phase. However, …