Impact of trees associated with cocoa trees on prevalence

Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus (CSSV) threatens the main cocoa-producing basins of Côte d'Ivoire to such an extent that the fight against this disease is a priority for all players in the cocoa industry. To contribute to the fight against the Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus disease this study was initiated with the general objective of assessing the impact of trees associated with cocoa trees on the prevalence and configuration of CSSV disease outbreaks in cocoa farms in the Fresco department. To this end the infection of plantations by swollen shoot disease was characterized and a botanical inventory of shade trees was carried out in and around foci. Finally the crowns of these trees were projected onto the ground. The measurement of shade tree densities showed that there were more trees around the homes than in them. The results show that shading does not influence the spread and development of CSSV symptoms in cocoa farms.