Article
Agronomy
Antonio Ortiz-Alvarez, Stanislav Magnitskiy, Elias Alexander Silva-Arero, Caren Rodriguez-Medina, Xavier Argout, Angela Maria Castano-Marin
Summary: The objective of this study was to investigate the accumulation of Cd in young cacao plants under water-deficit conditions. The results showed that water stress led to a decrease in leaf water potential and biomass, which in turn affected the accumulation and translocation of Cd. The full-sib family SCA6 x PA121 was found to be the most tolerant to water deficit and had the highest Cd accumulation. This study provides a basis for discussing the influence of water stress on Cd accumulation in cacao plants.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Carlos E. Gonzalez-Orozco, Allende Pesca
Summary: This study proposes a new biogeographical regionalization of cultivated cacao in Colombia, based on spatial partitioning, climate variable mapping, and hierarchical classification. Four main regions, along with 31 sub-regions and 54 provinces, were identified using cocoa farm distributions and geospatial data. Solar radiation, precipitation, and soil temperature seasonality were found to be the main factors explaining the biogeographical regions. River networks also played a role in explaining sub-regional and provincial differences. This up-to-date classification can be a valuable tool for agricultural planning and the development of denominations of origin for cacao in Colombia.
FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Noor Ariefandie Febrianto, Fan Zhu
Summary: Theobroma grandiflorum, T. bicolor, and T. subincanum are underutilized cocoa species that have the potential to improve the flavor and nutritional quality of cocoa products.
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Elodie Jean-Marie, Weiwen Jiang, Didier Bereau, Jean-Charles Robinson
Summary: Cocoa and cupuassu pods and beans are rich in fats and carbohydrates, as well as bioactive compounds such as polyphenols and methylxanthines, which have various health benefits. However, these pods are often eliminated during processing.
Review
Plant Sciences
Babar Hussain, Shibin Liu, Shafeeq Ur Rahman, Santos Triunfo Leiva-Espinoza, Khadija Javed, Shengyan Pu, Muhammad Farooq
Summary: Cadmium is a carcinogenic element with no significant role in plant growth. Accumulated cadmium in plants can enter the food chain and pose human health risks. Recent research has focused on reducing cadmium uptake and accumulation in cacao beans. Various approaches such as biochar, organic amendments, and inorganic amendments have been proposed to immobilize cadmium in soil and alleviate its toxic effects. The selection of low cadmium-accumulating genotypes may also be a promising strategy to decrease cadmium contents in cacao beans.
JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANT NUTRITION
(2023)
Review
Agronomy
Helmuth E. E. Nieves-Orduna, Konstantin V. V. Krutovsky, Oliver Gailing
Summary: The cacao tree is cultivated in the tropics to produce seeds, which are valuable raw materials for the chocolate industry. It is crucial to conserve and use cacao genetic resources for breeding programs to enhance yield, improve quality, and disease resistance. This review focuses on three important aspects of cacao genetics necessary for sustainable production and crop improvement: geographic distribution and genetic variation of wild cacao populations, conservation and utilization of cacao genetic resources, and genetic basis of agronomic traits and its application for cacao improvement. We also emphasize the critical research areas required for sustainable cacao cultivation.
Article
Agronomy
Alina Sandra Puig, Wilber Quintanilla, Tracie Matsumoto, Lisa Keith, Osman Ariel Gutierrez, Jean-Philippe Marelli
Summary: Commercial cacao production in Hawaii has doubled in the past 10 years, with farmers receiving premium prices for their beans. The study identified Phytophthora palmivora as the primary cause of black pod disease in Hawaii, and laboratory studies showed differences in fungicide sensitivity among isolates. This research provides valuable preliminary information on disease management techniques.
Article
Agronomy
Abdullah, Sahar Faraji, Furrukh Mehmood, Hafiz Muhammad Talha Malik, Ibrar Ahmed, Parviz Heidari, Peter Poczai
Summary: The study characterized the distribution, structure, and role of the GASA gene family in cacao. It was found that these genes play important roles in seed development and fungal resistance.
Article
Environmental Sciences
D. Arguello, E. Chavez, E. Gutierrez, M. Pittomvils, J. Dekeyrel, H. Blommaert, E. Smolders
Summary: The effects of soil amendments on cadmium concentrations in cacao beans were tested in two established cacao orchards in Ecuador. Lime application decreased leaf cadmium concentrations in acidic soil, while compost application decreased leaf cadmium concentrations in neutral soil. The compost + lime treatment should be further tested in field scale to accelerate cadmium mitigation effects.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Emmanuelle Muller, Ihsan Ullah, Jim M. Dunwell, Andrew J. Daymond, Megan Richardson, Joel Allainguillaume, Andy Wetten
Summary: This study identified virus-like sequences in asymptomatic cacao plants, naming them eTcBV, with different types predominating in each genetic group. A diagnostic multiplex PCR method was developed to identify a specific insert's genetic status, potentially aiding in managing the impact of viruses in cacao crops.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Baby Juby, Janaki Seifudeen Minimol, Basura Suma, Adiyodi Venugopal Santhoshkumar, Joseph Jiji, Pottekkat Sidharthan Panchami
Summary: The study found that drought tolerant hybrids had higher levels of proline, superoxide dismutase enzyme, and glycine betaine. While plants under drought stress generally exhibit low nitrate reductase activity, the drought tolerant hybrids actually had higher NR activity compared to the susceptible hybrids. The control plants kept under fully irrigated conditions showed the highest amount of NR.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Shu-Xi Jing, Mariana Reis, Yvette Alania, James B. McAlpine, Shao-Nong Chen, Ana K. Bedran-Russo, Guido F. Pauli
Summary: A scalable preparative isolation scheme was developed to obtain six underivatized cocoa proanthocyanidins, revealing the importance of linkage site in determining the potency of these PACs as dentin biomodifiers.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Akiko Ishida, Isao Ogiwara, Sakae Suzuki
Summary: This study found that treating cacao seedlings with elevated CO2 concentrations significantly improved root growth and morphology, enhancing the ability of roots to absorb water and nutrients, and promoting overall seedling growth. The photosynthetic capacity of the leaves also increased, adapting to the high CO2 concentration environment.
Article
Plant Sciences
Mayra Andreina Osorio Zambrano, Darwin Alexander Castillo, Loyla Rodriguez Perez, Wilson Teran
Summary: This study characterized the response of seven commercially important cacao clones to water deficit stress, identifying EET8 as the highest performing clone and ICS-60 as the most susceptible to water stress. Water deficit triggered oxidative stress, activating antioxidant systems and PSII repair mechanisms, which played key roles in determining tolerance to water deficit stress among clones.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Virology
Ihsan Ullah, Andrew J. Daymond, Paul Hadley, Michelle J. End, Pathmanathan Umaharan, Jim M. Dunwell
Summary: Cocoa is an important tropical crop, and the exchange of germplasm is crucial for varietal development. Quarantine facilities and screening procedures help minimize the risk of pest and disease transmission. New detection methods for mild virus infections are valuable for early diagnosis.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Romaric Armel Mouafo Tchinda, Thaddee Boudjeko, Anne-Marie Simao-Beaunoir, Sylvain Lerat, Eric Tsala, Ernest Monga, Carole Beaulieu
MICROBES AND ENVIRONMENTS
(2016)
Article
Agronomy
R. A. Mouafo-Tchinda, M. L. Fall, C. Beaulieu, O. Carisse
Summary: This study compares the susceptibility of commonly grown grapevine cultivars in Quebec to two clades of Plasmopara viticola. It investigates the relationship between anatomical and genetic factors of the cultivars and their susceptibility to each clade. The study also highlights the importance of knowing the clade present in order to adapt control measures for downy mildew accordingly.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
