The pruning and its effect on the quality of cocoa beans (Theobroma cacao L.).

Abstract

The purpose of pruning is to stimulate the development of new buds, increase flowering, production, and the quality of fruits. The quality of cocoa beans from trees that were pruned at different levels was evaluated in tropical moist forest life zone (T-mf) in the municipality of Chigorodó, in the Urabá region in Colombia, at 40 m. altitude, with temperatures between 21 and 34°C, with 80% average relative humidity. The fat content and minerals in fermented and dried cocoa beans of the universal clones CCN-51 and ICS-95 were quantified. The pruning treatments were as follows to height pruning (-h) the tree was cut to 4 m height; base pruning (b) cut at 4 m height with dry and poorly located branches removed; base pruning minus 25 percent leaf area (b-25% LA), base minus 50 percent LA (b-50%) and base minus 75 percent LA (b-75%) of the canopy. The harvest was carried out in 3 seasons, 2, 3, and 8 months after pruning. The pruning treatment had no significant effect on the mineral content in the cocoa beans, however the harvest time was a significant factor.