Devastating virus attacks cocoa trees, threatens global chocolate supply

A virus that spreads rapidly in cocoa trees and beans endangers production of the world's most popular candy supply, according to a study by researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington. Experts detail that the infectious agent is attacking the plants of Ghana—one of the largest cocoa producers on the planet, along with other African countries—causing losses of between 15 and 50 percent. The harmful virus is transmitted through insects called scale insects that eat the leaves, buds and flowers of trees, causing a threat to the world's supply of chocolate, the scientists say in the article published in the scientific journal PLoS One . Benito Chen-Charpentier, a mathematics professor at the University of Texas and author of Cocoa Sustainability, explained that pesticides do not work well against insects, "forcing farmers to try to prevent the spread of the disease by cutting down infected trees." and raising resilient trees.” "But despite these efforts, Ghana has lost more ...