Olmeca: hybrid cacao for high yield

Abstract

The objective of this study is to report the morphological, performance and quality characteristics of the Olmeca hybrid. This genotype is the product of crossing the RIM 76A X EET 400 progenitors. The RIM 76 A genotype is a clonal selection of a creole cocoa genotype from Mexico and the EET 400 genotype is a commercial clonal selection from Ecuador. Its fruits of the Olmeca clone of up to 20 cm with elliptical shape, obtuse apex and weak basal constriction. Each fruit contains an average of 40 seeds and the hue of the cotyledons is dark purple. The evaluations of the yield of the Olmeca clone after 11 years of establishment in the farms El Morralero in the municipality of Comalcalco, Los Pinos in the municipality of Cunduacan and in the Ostitan of the municipality of Huimanguillo in the state of Tabasco, have shown averages of 46 fruits per tree free of diseases and an average fruit index of 16 in the years 2013 to 2016, this indicates that with this number of fruits, one kg of dry cocoa can be produced. Resistance to moniliasis in the field is of the order of 86%. The fermented dry cocoa bean and cocoa paste tasting has featured notes of cocoa, fresh fruit, walnuts, fruity, sweet malt caramel, and dried fruit. These attributes are in the commercial interest for the exploitation for the production of chocolates of origin of the variety, characteristics that are not yet used in Mexico. This hybrid has been registered in the National Catalog of Plant Varieties of the National Seed Inspection and Certification Service with number CAO-008-230218 and breeder’s title number 2270. The multiplication of this variety is through the asexual route by grafting, which is available to producers in southern Mexico at CAEHUI-INIFAP, in Huimanguillo, Tabasco.