Hostname: page-component-84b7d79bbc-tsvsl Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-26T08:21:29.593Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Effects of Pod Maturity on Bean Development, Viability, Mucilage Content and Seedling Vigour in Cacao

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 October 2008

S. A. Adenikinju
Affiliation:
Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Gambari Experiment Station, Ibadan

Summary

Hand-pollinated pods of the Crin Elite establishment cocoa progeny C77 X C23 showed that pod maturity, based on pod age, significantly affected bean viability as well as leaf area, leaf number, plant height and plant girth of the seedlings produced. Beans extracted from immature unripe cocoa pods only 15 weeks from hand-pollination were more than 50 per cent viable and produced seedlings vigorous enough for transplanting to the field after 20 weeks in the nursery compared with beans from 25-week-old normal, mature-ripe cocoa pods. Loss by black pod disease (Phytopthora palmivora Butl) could therefore be avoided and time of waiting for pods to attain normal maturity and ripening saved, by early harvesting.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1972

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Adenikinju, S. A. (1966). Ann Rep. Cocoa Res. Inst. Nigeria 19651966, 109.Google Scholar
Ashiru, G. A. (1970). Expl Agric. 6, 341.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Foster, L. J. & Kee, Lim Hong (1970). Cocoa Growers' Bull. 14, 16.Google Scholar
Glendinning, D. R. & Martison, V. A. (1966). Ann. Rep. Cocoa Res. Inst. Ghana Acad. Sci. 19651966.Google Scholar
Jacob, V. J. (1966). Ann Rep. Cocoa Res. Inst. Nigeria 19651966, 58.Google Scholar
Jacob, V. J. (1967). Ann Rep. Cocoa Res. Inst. Nigeria 19661967, 43.Google Scholar
Jacob, V. J. (1968). Ann Rep. Cocoa Res. Inst. Nigeria 19671968, 63.Google Scholar
Locknard, R. G. & Asomaning, E. J. A. (1961). West Afr. Cocoa Res. Inst. Leaflet, Tafo, Ghana.Google Scholar
Snedecor, G. W. (1956). Statistical Methods (5th Ed.) Ames, Iowa: Iowa State College Press.Google Scholar