EARLY FIELD PERFORMANCE OF 20 TRINIDAD SELECTED HYBRID (TSH) CACAO CULTIVARS BASED ON SURVIVABILITY, GROWTH, YIELD AND PEST AND DISEASE RESISTANCE OVER A SIX- YEAR PERIOD

Trinidad and Tobago is an exclusive producer of fine or flavour cocoa, which is produced from selected Trinitario genetic germplasm. This country participated in a Common Funds for Commodities/ International Cocoa Organisation/Bioversity Germplasm Project from 2000 to 2010. Twenty TSH clones (nine commercial types: TSH 730, 919, 1076, 1077, 1095, 1102, 1104, 1188 and 1220 and 11 TSH 1300 series) were evaluated over this period for growth, yield and disease resistance parameters in a replicated field trial located at La Reunion Estate, Centeno. Over the first three years significant differences were found between clones for survival rates in the field (X2 = 2.51, 38df P>0.001); field resistance to damage caused by the Cocoa Beetle, Steirastoma breve; presence or absence of vegetative brooms formed from Witches Broom Disease infection and precocity. A significant correlation (R2=-0.789; P=0.001) existed between girth and vigour for 3-year old trees. Dry bean yield data from 2003 to 2005 is presented, showing significant differences between cultivars, with TSH 730, 1076, 1330, 1344, 1350, 1347 and 1380 achieving 3-yr cumulative yields close to or exceeding 2 t ha-1. Cultivars with good yield and disease resistance traits are very discernible from this trial.