This article addresses an agronomic characterization of 11 hybrid cocoa families established in 2001 at the Divo Station.
Objective. This study aims to determine the characteristics of CNRA Guyanese cocoa hybrids.
Eleven hybrid families including six Guyanese hybrids were evaluated in the field at the Divo station for seven parameters relating to production, vigor, pod filling and graining. The experimental design was a total randomization of single-tree plots. The Guyanese hybrids F1 (P7 x GU123-B) and F2 (P7 x GU284-B) with 1.5 kg/ha/year were more productive and resistant to black pod disease with 7% rotten pods. Concerning the technological character of the beans, three guyanese families F3 (IMC57 x GU123-B), F1 (P7 x GU123-B) and F7 (IFC11 x GU123-B) and were among the best families for the average weight of a commercial cocoa bean with respectively 1.30 g; 1.28 and 1.27. Multivariate analyses highlighted three groups, the first of which is composed of three hybrids F1, F2 and F200 (including two guyanese) productive and resistant to black pod. The second group is composed of seven hybrids F3, F4, F7, F13, F10, F14, F209 including four guyanese which were moderately productive and less vigorous and the third group includes a control hybrid F203 with good graining.
This study shows that the Guyanese families F1 and F2 presented the best yield and resistance to brown pod rot. These promising results constitute an indicator for the breeder in the choice of genotypes to use as parents in the context of improving cocoa trees for certain traits of agronomic interest. The best trees of this family could be introduced into the cocoa genetic improvement program in Côte d’Ivoire.