Repeatability and minimum harvest period of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) in Southern Bahia

• Published in: Euphytica Vol. 102; no. 1; pp. 29 - 35
• Main Authors: Santos Dias, L.A. dos (Sao Paulo Univ., Sao Paulo, SP (Brazil). Estacao Experimental 'Filogonio Peixoto'), Kageyama, P.Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01-01-1998; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; FRECUENCIA DE LAS COSECHAS; FREQUENCE DE RECOLTE; Fruits; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; GENOTIPOS; GENOTYPE; Genotype & phenotype; GENOTYPES; Harvest; HARVESTING FREQUENCY; SELECCION; SELECTION; THEOBROMA CACAO; Varietal selection. Specialized plant breeding, plant breeding aims; Yield, quality, earliness, varia; South America; Brazil; America; Bahia Brazil; Repeatability; Dicotyledones; Sterculiaceae; Harvesting; Angiospermae; Stimulant plant; Period; Spermatophyta; Intraspecific comparison; Yield component; Breeding scheme; Theobroma cacao
• ISSN: 0014-2336; 1573-5060
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1018373211196

Classically, selection for superior genotypes in cacao has been based on the successive harvest records across a number of years. Little information on the minimum duration of these harvest periods is available in the literature. The repeatability coefficient (ρ) was used to estimate this period. Twenty five cacao genotypes were assayed in a randomized block design with four replications and 16-plant plots. The following yield components were studied: number of healthy fruits per plant, number of collected fruits per plant, weight of humid seeds per plant and per fruit, and percentage of diseased fruits per plant, over 5 years (1986-90). Repeatability estimates were higher than 0.84 for all components, except percentage of diseased fruits per plant (^ρ - 0.41). With such estimates, it is possible to select genotypes on the basis of only two years of successive harvests, with a determination coefficient of 90%. The advantages of applying the repeatability coefficient to the cacao breeding program are discussed.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]