Cocoa tree - Theobroma cocoa
Description and Uses
Theobroma cocoa (Cocoa tree) is a tropical tree from Amazone. It is mainly grown for its nut crops (medium shelflife), but also Other uses include; alcohol, fruit, medicinal, mulch, nut, oil and ornamental can be produced. The crop is harvested by hand picking. It starts flowering after 4 - 5 years. The first yield will be 5 pods/tree but in its top season there will be a yield of 600 seeds/tree. Array. Medical uses include; it is medically used as high vitamin-C content. The seed/nut contains Theobromine (2% - 10%). There is Cocoa butter extracted by fractional distillation from the tree`s seed/nut yielding 54 - 58% oil. The tree`s wood is called cocoa wood and has a density of 410 - 430 kg/m³. Regarding firewood production the tree`s growing speed is very slow, its energetic value is 4100 ckal/kg and the wood`s drying speed is slow; for firewood production it is not ideal. After 50 years the tree can be totally removed as it reached its commercial and ecological goal. Theobroma cocoa has a lifespan of 90 years.
Environmental limitations
The tree is 7 meters tall. It is very slow growing and tolerates not less light than shade tolerant. Theobroma cocoa has a shallow root-system and forms symbiotic relations Glomus hoi,Glomus mosseae (endo-mycorrhiza). It is not able to fix nitrogen. The tree`s flower-morphology is hermaphroditic and is pollinated by Forcipomyia. Theobroma cocoa is deciduous in dry season and not allelopathic and has no thorns.
Theobroma cocoa thrives in an altitude of 20 to 300 meters above sea-level (tropical). The minimum temperature is 9°C and optimally between 24 - 28°C. The optimal rainfall is 2500 mm/year. Without irrigation the annual rainfall should be between 1000 - 3000 mm (L/m²). The optimal soil-pH is between 5.0 - 7.0 in a soil texture of loam. To salt it is intolerant to wind intolerant and to fire intolerant.
Pests and Diseases
Distantiella theobroma,Earias biplaga,Helopeltis antonii,Helopeltis sumatranus and Black mould,Boxwood blight,Indian paint fungus,Ryegrass Mosaic Virus diseases.
Seed Propagation
Seeds are recalcitrant and can be stored for 1 months. There are approximative 200 seeds/kg. The seeds can be propagated as followed: (1) Store harvested seeds in water or in the fruit at room temperature, (3) Remove the seeds from cold to a permanent warm temperature., (3) Seeds germinate above ground (epigeous)
