Study on growth, flowering and fruit setting patterns of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.)
1991
Warawut Chootummatouch | Poolchai Teepapal | Panit Ngangoranatigan (Chumphon Horticultural Research Centre, Chumphon (Thailand))
Study was conducted at Chumporn Horticultural Research Centre between October 1989 and December 1990, using eight 6-year-old cocoa trees of 2 clones (UIT 1 and Sca 6). The number of flowers, flushing, the total number of fruits set the percentage of cherelle wilt in relation to fruit set and the total number of pods harvested were determined weekly. Meteorological data were collected at the centre. Soil moisture content was measured monthly using a neutron moisture meter at 3 soil depths (30, 60 and 90 cm). Leaf flushing occurred 4-5 times a year and the pattern was similar in both clones, with a maximum in late April. Flowering was greatest during late April and June with maximum fruit set in June. Fruit setting and cherelle wilt patterns were similar to time but differed between the 2 clones. The harvesting period of Sca 6, with peak in November, was longer than that of UIT 1. The number of flowers and fruit set were reduced in the latter flush. Both flowering and flushing appeared to be particularly profuse 1-2 weeks after the first rains that followed a period of drought.
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