A potential role for an extracellular methanol oxidase secreted by Moniliophthora perniciosa in Witches' broom disease in cacao

► Methanol oxidase from M. perniciosa is a secreted protein. ► Mp-mox and Mp-pme show an expression correlation in vitro and in planta. ► Mp-pme expression in planta is correlated with the reduction of methyl esterification. ► We propose a peroxisome-independent model for methanol metabolism in M. perniciosa.