Seasonal influences upon the pod weight of cacao and their consequences for selection

In a previous publication about the selection of cacao in West New Guinea, directions have been given on the production determination of individual trees. It was tacitly assumed that the pod weight of a given tree, although variable, would not change systematically with time. However, new data brought to light that this assumption was wrong. It was established that during the main harvest the average pod weight was considerably lower than during the remaining months. But as these changes of weight appeared to have no influence on the quotient pulp weight/pod weight, the method of production determination mentioned needs no revision.Present address: University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.