Evaluation of cocoa half sib selection for morphological and yield traits under Tamil Nadu conditions

Abstract

Seven half sib selections (CCRP1 x X, CCRP2 x X, CCRP3 x X, CCRP4 x X, CCRP5 x X, CCRP6 x X and CCRP7 x X) were evaluated for morphological and yield characters at Kaliyapuram, Pollachi, Coimbatore district during July to December 2018. There were significant differences among the half sib selections for, first branching height, stem girth, number of flowers per cushion, number of flower cushions per tree, number of pod harvested per tree, pod weight, pod value, single dry bean weight and dry bean yield per pod. The results indicated that, CCRP5 x X recorded maximum number flower cushion per tree (179.11), number of pod harvested per tree (21.74), pod weight (376.93 g), single dry bean weight (1.02 g) and dry bean yield per pod (41.22 g). This clone CCRP5 can be utilized for further breeding program to obtain high yield in cocoa.