Effect of fertilizer and endomycorrhizal inoculum on growth and nutrient uptake of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) seedlings

Summary A greenhouse experiment was carried out to evaluate the influence of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM) on growth and nutrient uptake of cocoa seedlings treated with five levels of palm oil mill effluent, in an unsterilized Oxisol and an Ultisol, either with or without addition of the VAM fungus Scutellospora calospora (Nicol. & Gred.) Walker and Sanders. Inoculation with the VAM fungi significantly increased nutrient uptake and plant growth in both soils. The dry matter yield, and the tissue N and K concentration in the plant tops increased significantly with increasing levels of palm oil mill effluent applied to both the Oxisol and the Ultisol. The maximum tissue P concentration, however, was obtained from plants grown in the Ultisol that was given 50.0 g palm oil mill effluent per kg while the maximum P recovery of 26% was obtained from plants given only 16.7 g effluent per kg. Overall, the percentage of P recovery decreased with the addition of increasing levels of palm oil mill effluent. In the Oxisol, the tissue P concentration increased with the addition of increasing levels of palm oil mill effluent, but the maximum recovery of P was recorded from plants given only 0.3 g effluent per kg. The percentage P recovery decreased with subsequent additions of the effluent.     

Increased frequency of phytosanitary pod removal in cacao (Theobroma cacao) increases yield economically in eastern Peru

Diseases caused by Moniliophthora roreri (moniliasis), Crinipellis perniciosa (witches’ broom) and Phytophthora palmivora (black pod) are the most important factors limiting cocoa production in Peru and cultural management is considered to be the only practical means of control for the smallholder. The objective of this study was to develop an epidemiologically and economically sound control recommendation based on the frequency of phytosanitary pod removal. Weekly removal of diseased pods reduced the incidence of diseases significantly in comparison with fortnightly removal. In three fields, moniliasis was decreased by 26–41%, black pod by 35–66% and witches’ broom on pods by 14–57%. The cumulative effect was a consistent yield increase from an average of 504–660 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. Returns compensated for increased labour costs. Weekly pod removal was 32% more profitable. Time-course analyses indicated that weekly removal should be practised throughout the year under field conditions of eastern Peru.     

Development of an algorithm identifying maximally diverse core collections

The development of a core collection, one which represents the genetic diversity of a crop with minimal redundancy and increases utility of the collection as a whole, is especially important as the funding for germplasm collections decreases. With limited resources, it is difficult to manage large germplasm collections and disperse genetically diverse germplasm to plant breeders. An algorithm was developed to assist in selection of core collections based on estimates of genetic distance. The criteria for selection of the maximum genetically diverse set were based on rankings of genetic distance between an accession with respect to all other accessions. Depending on the size core which a user wished, a zone around each selected accession was determined and no other accession within these limits was selected. The premise for the algorithm was that the genetic variability represented in the core must be representative of the distribution of genetic distances within the population of interest. In the present study, the algorithm was used with RAPD-marker-based estimates of genetic distance for 270 Theobroma cacao L. accessions and 134 Capsicum accessions that chose a set representing 18.5% of the population and representing the breadth of RAPD-based variation.     

Combination of cacao with other plantation crops: an agroforestry system in Southeast Bahia,Brazil

Brazil accounts for about 20% of the world production of cocoa, and about 95% of cocoa produced in Brazil is from the southeastern part of Bahia State. Traditionally, cacao is grown in monoculture (though under the shade of various other species). But various crop combinations involving cacao have recently been undertaken by the farmers with encouragement from Brazilian government.As a part of the crop diversification programme in the traditional cacao growing areas and their surroundings, extensive areas are being planted to other plantation crops, mainly clove and rubber and, to some extent, coconut too. Crop combinations have been adopted in some of these new plantings and cacao is an important component of most of such combinations. Whereas several other crops are combined with clove trees, cacao is usually the only species grown with mature rubber trees. Young rubber trees are, however, interplanted with a number of other species. Productive coconut areas are found mostly in sandy soils along the coast so that there is little intercropping. However, scattered farms are found where coconuts are underplanted with guarana, black pepper, cacao, cashew, etc. as done commonly in other parts of Northeast Brazil.     

Modelling agroforestry systems of cacao (Theobroma cacao) with laurel (Cordia alliodora) or poro (Erythrina poeppigiana) in Costa Rica

Predictive models were developed for Cordia alliodora branch and Theobroma cacao branch or leaf biomass,based on branch basal areas (r² 0.79) but the model of C. alliodora leaf biomass, although significant, was of very low accuracy (r² = 0.09) due to annual leaf fall. At age 10 years, shade tree stem biomass accounted for 80% of the total above-ground biomass of either tree. However, between the ages of 6 and 10 years, the biomass increment of T. cacao branches (3–4t.ha^–1.a^–1) was similar to that of the shade tree stems. During the same period, the net primary productivity was 35 and 28 t.ha^–1.a^–1, for the Erythrina poepigiana and and C. alliodora systems, respectively.Cocoa production under either of the shade trees C. alliodora or E. poeppigiana was 1000 kg.ha^–1.a^–1 (oven-dry; ages 6–10 yr). During the same period, C. alliodora timber production was 9 m³.ha^–1.a^–1 whilst the leguminous shade tree E. poeppigiana does not produce timber. Litterfall over the same 5 years, including crop and/or shade tree pruning residues, averages 11 and 23 t.ha^–1.a^–1, respectively. The main difference was due to E. poeppigiana pruning residues (10t.ha^–1.a^–1).Soil organic material reserves (0–45 cm) increased over 10 years from 198 to 240 t.ha^–1 in the E. poeppigiana plots and from 168–184 t.ha^–1 in the C. alliodora plots. These values, together with the productivity indices presented, provide evidence that the systems are sustainable.For economic reasons, the use of C. alliodora is recommended under the experimental conditions. however, on less fertile soils without fertilization, the greater biomass and hence nutrient return to the soil surface under E. poeppigiana, might make this the preferable shade tree.     

Litter production and nutrient cycling in coffee (Coffea arabica) or cacao (Theobroma cacao) plantations with shade trees

The relative importance of N fixation, organic material inputs and nutrient inputs in litterfall, as justifications for including shade trees in plantations of coffee or cacao, is discussed. According to existing data, N fixation by leguminous shade trees does not exceed 60 kg.N/ha/a. However, these trees contribute 5,000–10,000 kg. organic material/ha/a.Comparisons are made between the leguminous shade tree Erythrina poeppigiana and the non-leguminous timber tree Cordia alliodora. The former, when pruned 2 or 3 times/a., can return to the litter layer the same amount of nutrients that are applied to coffee plantations via inorganic fertilizers, even at the highest recommended rates for Costa Rica of 270 kg.N, 60 kg.P, 150 kg.K/ha/a. The annual nutrient return in this litterfall represents 90–100 percent of the nutrient store in above-ground biomass of E. poeppigiana, and hence the consequences of competition with the crop should not be a serious limitation. In the case of C. alliodora, which is not pruned, nutrient storage in the tree stems, especially of K, is a potential limiting factor to both crop and tree productivity.It is concluded that, in fertilized plantations of cacao and coffee, litter productivity is a more important shade tree characteristic than N fixation.An early version of this review was presented at the CATIE-IUFRO meeting Los Arboles de Uso Multiple en Sistemas Agroforestales, June 1985, Turrialba, Costa Rica.     

Modelling species and spacing effects on root zone water dynamics using Hydrus-2D in an Amazonian agroforestry system

Modelling the root zone water dynamics in a tree crop agroforestry system is a useful approach to understanding small-scale effects in tree crop systems and may be helpful for optimizing tree spacing in agroforestry system planning. The agroforestry system in this study consists of the species Theobroma grandiflorum (Willd ex Spreng) Schum (Cupuaçu), Bactris gasipaes H.B.K. (peach palm) and the cover crop Pueraria phaseoloides (Roxb.) Benth (Pueraria). The soiltype is an oxisol. Calibration was conducted for each of the three species separately. Calibration results show good conformity between simulated and measured data. Simulated scenarios examine the influence of different spacing between trees on root water uptake, evaporation and drainage. Mean interception and crop factors of the whole flow region vary with spacing or are held constant to examine below-ground effects only. Also a fictitious scenario of an older agroforestry system with deeper roots is calculated. In order to overcome restrictions of the computer program Hydrus-2D, correction factors in the root zone were introduced and a calculation scheme for root water uptake of a flow subregion was developped. Below-ground effects of spacing between trees are not or almost not present, but the depth of the tree roots has a significant influence on root water uptake, evaporation and drainage. When mean interception and crop factor vary, drainage increases and root water uptake decreases slightly with spacing. The modelling approach has been found promising for optimizing agroforestry systems although it can only be seen as a first beginning. In an agroforestry systems under drier conditions differences in results will probably be larger.     

发酵方式对海南可可豆特性和风味的影响分析

检测了木箱子发酵、竹盘子发酵、堆积发酵和智能培养箱发酵等不同发酵方式下的海南可可豆的单粒重、吸光度、水分、pH、色度,并采用电子鼻测定了未烘烤和烘烤后的可可豆风味,对响应结果进行了主成分分析(PCA)。结果表明:不同发酵方式下的可可豆特性差异明显,采用木箱子和堆积发酵后的可可豆与竹盘子和智能培养箱发酵后的可可豆在电子感官风味分析上差异较大。认为木箱子发酵和堆积发酵为适合海南可可豆的发酵方式,利用该技术可以提高海南可可发酵豆的品质。     

可可核心种质遗传多样性及果实性状与SSR标记关联分析

利用15对SSR引物,分析具有广泛来源的70份可可资源的遗传多样性。结果表明,15对引物共扩增出76个条带,其中50个多态性条带,占总带数的65.8%。70份可可资源间遗传相似系数(SM)在0.341~0.943之间,平均值为0.625,说明可可资源具有丰富的遗传多样性。在相似系数为0.65水平上,可将70份可可资源分成10类。利用Structure 2.3.2软件分析群体结构,结合可可果实相关性状的表型数据,采用Tassel 2.1的一般线性模型(General linear model,GLM)进行关联分析;结果表明18个位点与果重、果壳重、果长、果径围、果壳厚显著相关(p0.05),各位点对表型变异贡献率为5.5%~13.1%。