Currently, cocoa is propagated largely by seeds. Over the years
there have been contradictory reports on the transmission of CSSV
through seeds. Posnette (1940) reportedonthe discovery ofswollen
shoot virus in 2-month old squirrel-sown seedlings under infected
cocoa trees, indicating transmission by seeds. Further experiments
in insect-proof cages, using only dwarfed pods from trees almost
killed by swollen shoot virus, were carried out. Based on visual
symptoms, it was suggested that some beans from infected trees
carried the virus. It appears that, in anyone dwarfed pod, either all
or none of the beans from infected trees carried the virus. No transmission
was obtained with beans from normal pods taken from
infected trees (Posnette, 1940). Further investigation by Posnette
(1947) has suggested that seed transmission does not occur.