Evaluation of Adaptation and Yield Stability of Cocoa Progenies in Marginal Conditions: Results from an on Farm Cocoa Trial Set up in a Forest–Savannah Transition Area in Cameroon

Tchoua, Le Blanc Feumba De; Sounigo, Olivier; Bourgoing, Raymond; Efombagn, Mousseni Ives Bruno; Abolo, Dieudonné; Ambang, Zachée; Cilas, Christian

doi:10.3390/crops1010004

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 10 publications

(16 reference statements)

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“…The actual yield value (604 kg/ha) is rather low and similar to the one reported in traditional farmers plots in the central part of Cameroon by Jagoret et al [11], but lower than the one observed on some of on farm progeny trial plots by Feumba de Tchoua et al [12], in an area of Central Cameroon region with climatic conditions resulting in a low incidence of Phytophthora megakarya.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 75%

“…The low mean level of yield in the plot can be explained by the rather high % of mortality (27%) and of rotten pods (31,4%). A similar % of mortality was observed on some of the on-farm trial plots assessed by Feumba de Tchoua et al [12] in the central region of Cameroon, and a slightly lower one was observed in commercial cocoa plots by Wibeaux et al [13], in Côte d'Ivoire. Ofori et al [14] observed % of mortality ranging between 6.7 and 50% in a clone trial set up in marginal conditions, in Ghana.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 71%

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Evaluation of Cocoa Full-Sib Progenies in Challenging Conditions in Cameroon

Sounigo,

Vefonge,

Eyango

et al. 2023

JEAI

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The improved vegetal material cultivated by cocoa farmers in Cameroon consists in full-sib progenies issued from pods harvested in bi-clonal seed gardens set up during the 1970s. Interviews of cocoa farmers revealed their general satisfaction with the yield level obtained from these progenies but also their disappointment with the high level of susceptibility to black pod disease, a disease caused by Phytophthora megakarya, which is a serious challenge for cocoa production in this country. In order to select new future varieties that would combine high yield and resistance to black pod disease, new progeny trial plots were set up from 2005, in research stations and on farm. 23 cocoa full-sib progenies were assessed and compared to 3 control progenies. in a trial plot set up in 2005 in a research station located in the south western region of Cameroon. The cocoa trees were assessed during eight consecutive years of cocoa production. A large level of variation was observed among the progenies for mortality rate (ranging between 6 and 52%), annual potential yield (ranging between 151 and 1,808 kg/ha), annual actual yield (ranging between 114 and 1,159 kg/ha) and black pod disease incidence (ranging between 19 and 39,8%) caused by Phytophthora megakarya. Nine of the assessed full-sib progenies were identified as promising and the authors suggest how to confirm their performances before their release to farmers.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 75%

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 71%

Evaluation of Cocoa Full-Sib Progenies in Challenging Conditions in Cameroon

Sounigo,

Vefonge,

Eyango

et al. 2023

JEAI

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“…However, one of the commercial varieties (IMC 67 x SNK 64) out yields all the other commercial and farmers' varieties in our trial. A significant difference in both actual and potential levels of yield was observed by Feumba de Tchoua et al [16], between the commercial progenies from IMC 67 x SNK 64 (845 and 1,015 g/tree) and UPA 143 x SNK 64 (647 and 791 g/tree) in other on farm progeny trial plots set up under the same conditions in Bakoa and another site in the same department. Furthermore, from the same on farm trial, these authors identified three commercial progenies with a similar or higher level of yield than IMC 67 x SNK 64.…”

Section: Results From the Ranking Of The Progeniesmentioning

confidence: 82%

Comparison between Farmers’ and Commercial Cocoa Varieties in Cameroon

Sounigo,

Tchoua,

Efombagn

et al. 2023

JEAI

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The present paper shows the results from eight on farm progeny cocoa trial plots set up in 2007 and 2008 on fallow and savannah, in four sites of Central Cameroon region. Mortality rate and yield were estimated on commercial cocoa varieties, consisting in progenies issued from pods harvested in bi-clonal seed gardens set up by researchers and managed by extension bodies, as well as on farmers’ varieties, issued from seeds obtained by farmers from pods harvested in their own fields. Despite the high variability observed among the trial plots for the three traits under assessment, it was possible to observe significant differences between some of the assessed varieties. The significantly highest yielding progeny is one of the assessed commercial varieties, issued from the cross IMC 67 x SNK 64. The significantly lowest yielding progeny is the farmers’ traditional amelonado variety (German cocoa). No significant difference was observed between “farmers’ hybrids” and the two other assessed commercial varieties, consisting in the progeny issued from the cross between UPA 143 and SNK 64 and from a mixture of six commercial progenies. The consequences of these data on the selection and release of commercial varieties in Cameroon are discussed.

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“…well (Lachenaoud et al, 2007;Ahnert and Eskes, 2018;Feumba de Tchoua et al, 2021). The yield data presented here do not reflect the yield potential of the cacao trees, since the trees were not yet fully grown (data collection included 6 to 10 years after planting).…”

Section: Yield and Productivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Locally-selected cacao clones for improved yield: a case study in different production systems in a long-term trial

Armengot,

Picucci,

Milz

et al. 2023

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

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Ageing plantations, poor genetic material, soil degradation, pests and diseases are, among other factors, limiting cacao production. To meet the increasing demand for cacao in the absence of productivity gains, forests are cleared and the use of external inputs is generalised, with severe negative impacts on biodiversity and GHG emissions. The use of improved plant genetic material should support a sustainable increase of production. In this study, we evaluate and compare the yield performance of four locally-selected clones with those of four widely-used international clones in South America and four full-sib families (crosses of the same international clones). The research was conducted in a long-term trial in Bolivia with different production systems, including monocultures and agroforestry systems under organic and conventional farming and a successional agroforestry system without external inputs. Their cacao yields and the factors determining productivity (pod index, flowering intensity, pod load, pod losses, aboveground biomass, harvesting period) were assessed during 5 years. The cacao trees grown in the two monocultures had higher yields than those in the agroforestry systems. This was the result of higher aboveground biomass, flowering intensity and pod load, and similar pod losses due to cherelle wilt and fungal diseases in the former when compared with the latter. No differences between conventional and organic management were observed. We did not identify any genotypes performing better in a specific production system. On average, the local clones had twofold and five times higher yields than the international ones and the full-sib families, respectively. This was related to their higher total pod load, bigger pods and higher yield efficiency, i.e., higher yield per unit of tree biomass. However, the local clones had less flowering intensity, more cherelle wilt and similar losses due to fungal diseases to those of the international clones. This study clearly shows the need to invest in selection and breeding programmes using locally-selected genetic material to increase cacao production and support renovation/rehabilitation plans. Breeding genetic material that is adapted to low light intensities is crucial to close the yield gap between monocultures and agroforestry systems, and to further promote the adoption of the latter.

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Evaluation of Adaptation and Yield Stability of Cocoa Progenies in Marginal Conditions: Results from an on Farm Cocoa Trial Set up in a Forest–Savannah Transition Area in Cameroon

Cited by 4 publications

References 10 publications

Evaluation of Cocoa Full-Sib Progenies in Challenging Conditions in Cameroon

Evaluation of Cocoa Full-Sib Progenies in Challenging Conditions in Cameroon

Comparison between Farmers’ and Commercial Cocoa Varieties in Cameroon

Locally-selected cacao clones for improved yield: a case study in different production systems in a long-term trial

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