CACAO

Scientific Name: Theobroma cacao

Common Name: Cacao tree and Cocoa tree

INTRODUCTION

Cacao has a rich and interesting history as a food and its usage dating back
thousands of years. At one point in Central America, cacao was so ubiquitous that it
was used as a form of currency.

Cacao differs greatly from what most have experienced in the form of processed
chocolate. Cacao is a very interesting in that it has the most complex make up of any
known natural food source. It is an excellent source of magnesium and very high
levels of antioxidants. While these components are broken down slightly processing,
there are low temperature processed raw cacao powders which attempt to render a
high quality product that remains nutrient rich. These raw powders are an easy way to
get started enjoying the wonderful properties of cacao. Nibs and beans have even
higher concentrations of antioxidants and can be fun to have around and can be put
to good use making granola and other goodies (use them as a replacement for
chocolate chips).

Production decreased by annual average rate of 1.88 percent from 2006 to

2010. Average annual decreases in area planted, number of bearing trees and yield
per bearing tree were 2.23 percent, 1.37 percent and 0.52 thousand metric tons, 2.23
percent lower than the level of 5.13 metric tons in 2009. The top producing regions
and their contributions to the national out put in 2010 were Davao Region, 69.86
percent, Northern Mindanao, 11.05 percent, Caraga, 2.47 percent; and Eastern
Visayas, 2.43 percent.

DESCRIPTION

Cacao leaves are alternate, entire, unlobed, 10–40 cm (4–16 in) long and

5–20 cm (2–8 in) broad.
The flowers are produced in clusters directly on the trunk and older branches;
they are small, 1–2 cm (1/2–1 in) diameter, with pink calyx. While many of the
world's flowers are pollinated by bees (Hymenoptera)
or butterflies/moths (Lepidoptera), cacao flowers are pollinated by tiny flies,
Forcipomyia midges in the order Diptera.  The fruit, called a cacao pod, is ovoid, 15–
30 cm (6–12 in) long and 8–10 cm (3–4 in) wide, ripening yellow to orange, and weighs
about 500 g (1 lb) when ripe. The pod contains 20 to 60 seeds, usually called "beans",
embedded in a white pulp. The seeds are the main ingredient of chocolate.
Recommended Varieties:

National Seed Industry Council Registered Varieties

There are many varieties of cacao but the National Seed Industry Council has
registered and approved only 9 varieties/clones of cacao. NSIC approved clones are the
following:

 BR 25 (CC-99-05)
- Reddish (red with green) pod color when still young that turns yellow as
it matures
- Leaves are elliptical in shape with wavy leaf margins
- Leaf length and width ratio is 11.0 cm is to 4.04 cm.
- First flowering starts at 16.12 months and fruiting follows at 17.70
months
- Pod index is 23.1pods/kg of dried beans. Pod length is 17.02 cm and has
width of 7.07.

 K1
- It has elliptical shape with smooth shape with smooth leaf margins
- Leaf length is 31.31 cm with a mean width of 13.44 cm
- It flowers at 23.20 months and bears fruit at 25.10 months
- Pod shape is Amelonado with a superficial ridges and a smooth surface.
Rugosity also appears in some cases.
- Pod index is 19.20 pods/kg of dried beans. Pod length is about 17.97 cm
and has width of about 8.67 cm.
- It has a pod wall thickness of around 1.80 cm.
- Bean color is violet and a hundred beans weigh about 182 grams.
- It is moderately resistant to known insect pests and diseases.

 K2
- Leaf shape is elliptical with smooth leaf margins.
- Leaf length is 32.73 cm with a mean width of 12.52 cm.
- It flowers at 21.10 months and bears fruit after three months or at 24.12
months
- Pod shape is Amelonado and is red in color while still young and
becomes yellow/ orange when mature.
- It has pod wall thickness of around 1.40 cm with 34 beans per pod.
- Pod index is 25 pods /kg of dried beans
- It is moderately resistant to known insect pest and diseases.

 UIT 1 (CC-99-02)
- It has an elliptical leaf shape with wavy leaf margin.
- Leaf length and width ration 22.36 cm to 8.13 cm.
- It flowers of age of 16.80 months in the stage of first fruiting.
- Pod shape is Cundemor. Pod length is 20.07 cm and width of 8.65 cm
- Pod is yellow when old from original color of green color when still young
with wall thickness of 1.02 cm.
- Moderately resistant to insect and pest diseases.
  ICS 40
- Leaf shape is elliptical with wavy leaf margin.
- Leaf length and width ratio is 29.95 cm is to 10.01 cm.
- Starts to flower at the age of 17.63 months and fruiting follows at 19.63
months and fruiting follows at 19.63 months.
- Pod shape is Cundeamor described as a variety with elongated cylindrical
fruit with ridges, a rugose surface, pronounced bottleneck and sharp
point.
- Pod color is green when young and turns yellow when mature with wall
thickness of 1.35 cm.
- Pod index is 16.2 pods/kg with 44 beans per pod. Canopy diameter is
195 cm.
- Bean is stiped.
- Moderately resistant to insect pest and diseases.

Other NSIC approved Varieties are:

 UF 18
 S5
 K4

Cultural Management

Soil Requirement

Soil is made up of 50% loamy soil, 30% clay and 20% silt. Deep soil is about
15cm, highly favors the growth of cacao. pH is 5.0 – 6.5

Propagation of Planting Materials

Propagation by seeds – nursery involves the production of a large

number of high quality planting materials, either by seeds or by vegetative
parts, of recommended clones of cultivars with uniform and vigorous growth
and free from pests.

 Seed Selection – collect a seeds from ripe and healthy pods and
preferably collected from the seed garden. Choice a seeds that are
uniform in size. Select big seeds since the possibility is high that they
would produce vigorous and fast growing seeds.

 Seed germination – the usual practice is to plant the prepared seeds

directly into the prepared poly bags in the nursery.

Procedures in Seed Germination

 Remove the mucilage that cover the seeds by rubbing the seeds
with sawdust or sand to loosen the mucilage
 Wash the seeds to effectively remove the mucilage
 Drain the water
  Keep it in a moist and well ventilated palce to pre- germination

Sowing the Pre- Germinated Seeds

 Collect those seeds that show sign of germination two days after
 Sow the pre- germinated seeds not more than 1 cm deep in the
prepared polybags. It is important to plant the germinated seeds
soon when the germs are 1 cm long. If planting is delayed, the root
or shoot may easily be damaged.

 Vegetative propagation – involves the choice of method of propagation;

patch budding, community nodal grafting, conventional grafting and side
grafting method.

Climatic Requirement

Ideal rainfall for cacao cultivation ranges from 1250 to 3000 mm per annum,
preferably 1500-2000 mm with dry season of not more than 3 months. Temperature
ideal for cacao lies between a mean maximum of 30-32°C and mean minimum of 18°C.
Altitude of the area should lie between 300-1200 meters above sea level. Suitable
temperature is generally found in an altitude up to 700 m. Cacao thrives best in areas
under Type IV climate which has an evenly distributed rainfall throughout the year.

On the other hand, weeds growing along spaces in between the blocks may be
controlled by cutting down with scythes. The use of herbicide is not recommended.
Therefore weeding could be done manually or by mulching with available materials
such as rice hull.

Fertilizer application:

Fertilizer is carried out after the first leaf hardens and should be based on the
result of soil analysis. If analysis is not available, incorporate 15-35 grams of
ammonium phosphate (18-48-0) per bag depending on the size of polybag. The use of
granular fertilizer is also done when the leaves are dry to avoid leaf scorching.

Culling/Selection: 

To ensure uniform growth and development of the seedlings to be planted in the

field, cull out the poor-growing seedlings in the nursery. This practice may be carried
out by removing the bags containing seeds which did not germinate and small,
crinkled seedlings.

Transplanting: 

To reduce the seedling shock during transplanting, it is necessary to rotate the

polybag to a few degrees one week before field planting. It is done for the seedlings
whose leaves heave hardened and especially for those which roots have penetrated the
ground. Watering has to be done for a few days later. Field planting must be started at
the onset of the rainy season. Unless irrigation is available, field planting during the
dry season is not advisable.

Pruning:

Pruning can be achieve three objectives, namely: a. Increase cacao pod

production; b. reduce pest and disease infestation c . control the shape and height of
the three, to ensure easy access for harvesting.
Pruning of young trees (less than 3 years) is limited to removal of weak fan
branches, leaving 3 to 4 equally spaced fan branches, a few months after formation of
the jorquette. Chupons, or sides shoots, growing at the base of the stem have to
remove regularly. For older trees more than 4 years that have never be pruned before,
farmers must able to learn how to determine branches that should be cut off and
perform the pruning using the correct method.

How to determine the branches to prune

 Branches that are growing downwards.

 Those that are curve
 ing, crossing from one side of the crown to the other, thus they do not grow out
ward from where the stem but zigzagging irregularly
 Branches that have large roofing parts or that are heavily wounded

How to cut large branches

(more than one centimeter in diameter)

 Use a saw, not a machete

 Saw close to the stem, to make the cutting vertical to the direction of the stem
 Use sharp pruning tools because it is important that the cut is sharp and clean.

Direction to Determine the Branches to be Cut Off.

 Pruning cocoa trees can increase production, make tree maintenance easier,
and reduce pest infestation and diseases.
 Maintenance pruning starts with regularly removal the low hanging.
 Second remove regularly the chupons (shoots) on the stem.
 Also remove all shoots and additional branches that are within 60 cm of the
jorquette. Removal of shoots is necessary to avoid production of non- essential
branches.
 It is important to remove regularly all dead, diseased and badly damaged
branches
 Top pruning of the highest branches (up to 4 meters) in order to keep the tree
short for easy regular harvesting and maintenance.
 It also recommended to open the center of the tree by pruning in the shape of a
champagne glass in order to reduce humidity and increase sunshine.
 The CPB does not like the sunshine and increased wind. The additional
sunshine to the stem will increase flowering as well.
  The best time for heavy pruning is after the high production cycle,
approximately one month before the rainy season. After pruning it is
recommended to apply fertilizer.
 Pruning has to be done regularly and correctly, results in more pods on the tree
with less pest infestation.

Types of Pruning

 Formative Pruning
 Maintenance Pruning
 Pest and Diseases Pruning

Rehabilitation of Cacao Trees

There are several conditions wherein an existing cacao farm needs to be

rehabilitated to improved yield or the quality of beans especially if the plantation
contains many unproductive trees known as borders. Free borders are trees which
develop few pods in spite of profuse flowering while others produce limited flowers and
pods. The other is when trees are already old and become less productive, and when
the varieties/ clones planted are generally low yielding and producing poor quality
beans.

Side Grafting

A less productive tree can be renewed to produce more pods by grafting

branches from selected trees unto the unproductive tree. The trees to be subjected for
rehabilitation are either young trees which have never produced many pods, a very old
tree which no longer produce as many pods as they used to. The scion or budwood
should come for trees selected for both high productivity and resistant tolerant to
major pest and diseases .A tree can have up to the three side grafts, but these must be
made one month apart. In the other words, the second side graft should be made at
least one month after the first side graft.

This consists of:

 ability to prepare scion or budsticks

 ability to prepare the tree for grafting
 putting the graft in place
 taking care of the new graft until it has grown firmly into the tree
 maintaining the grafted branches
Materials needed:

 notebook and pencil

 sharp pruning knife
 sharpened machete
 raffia/plastic wine
 plastic bags
 transport for participants to the field
 unproductive cacao trees for training purposes.

Procedure:

1. Identify old, less productive but healthy trees to be subjected to side- grafting.
2. Gather bud sticks from bud wood garden.
3. Prepare the bud sticks to be used for side grafting
4. Make first horizontal deep cut on the main trunk
5. Shave bark downward into the cut
6. Make sure original cut is through the bark to the white wood inside.
7. Make two cuts downward from the horizontal cut.
8. Create “window” by peeling the bark neatly and cleanly downward to reveal the
cambium.
9. Insert bud stick into the “window”
10.Tie window closed
11.Make sure graft is tied securely.
12.Cover side graft with plastic bag and tie tightly against the tree with raffia.
13.Remove plastic cover after one month
14.Productive side grafted trees 30 monts (2 1/2 years ) after grafting

Plant Nutrition

Cacao requires 16 essential elements to complete its life cycle and most of them are
obtained by the plant from the soil. The deficiency of any of these elements would
result in reduction in growth and production.

Providing proper amount of shade will reduce the nutrient needs of cacao due to
reduced metabolism as a result of decreased light intensity. Among the essential
elements needed by cacao are the nitrogen(N), phosphorus (P),potassium (K),calcium
(CA) and magnesium (MG) are the most deficient in many soils. These elements are
badly needed during the following period
Element Function Most needed during

Nitrogen vegetative growth the onset of rainy season and three months later
Phosphorus increases flowering the onset of rainy season
Potassium enhances flower set before flowering & fruit development and three
months later
CA & Mg lengthen life of leaves the onset of rainy season

Regularly apply organic fertilizer around the base of the plant particularly to during
the wet season, to hasten the vegetative and reproductive growth of cacao trees. The
pod bearing cacao trees without shade requires 100kgN,20 P kg K per hectare year.

Management of Common Cacao Pests and Diseases

1. CPB Control Method (Cacao Pod Borer, caused by Conopomorpha cramella)

Cutural Practices to control are:

 Regular harvesting in order to break the lifecycle of the pest.

 Sanitation; which includes to bury all empty cacao pod husks, but also to also
to remove all other diseased pods, black pods, and pods eaten by animals from
the trees.
 Pruning; to increase the sunlight which the pest does not favor.
 Bagging or sleeving of the young pods with newspaper and staples (or plastic
bag)
 Fertilizer, to increase the general health of the tree and in addition increasing
cacao production.

2. VSD Control Method (Vascular Streak Die back ,caused by Oncobasidum

theobromae)

 Sanitation pruning – cut off infected branches at 30 cm below the infested

area , and burn cuttings.
 Nurseries should use polythylene roofing to ensure spores cannot land on the
seedlings
 Shade on the cacao trees should be reduced to lower humidity.
 Plant VSD tolerant varieties.

3.Black Pod Rot and Canker Control Method

 Frequent harvesting to avoid pathogen spirulation

 Harvest all the infested, dead and mummified pods and ideally destroy or bury
them
 Prune the cacao trees and shade trees to reduce humidity.
 Have a good drainage system so that the spores cannot spread in puddles of
water.
 Trees that have died due to tree canker should be cut down and destroyed.
  Scraping off the bark from the infected area and put pain or soap on it.

4.Helopeltis Control Method (Helopeltis , a sap- sucking bug)

 Generally sanitation of farm

 Regular harvesting.

5.Stem borer Control Method (Zeuzera)

 Cut off infested branches at 40 cm below the lowest larvae hole. These branches
should be destroyed.
 After pruning of an infested of an infested tree, big branches, especially those
with stem borer holes, should be burned.
 The hole can be covered or plugged with mud or wood to prevent the larva to
come out, so that it cannot feed and hatch ,or cannot breathe.
 Poking the larvae out with a piece of wire.
 Squirt some soap solution in the exit hole. After a while, the larva will emerge
from the driven hole, probably driven out by the unpleasant soap fume. Catch
and kill the stem borer.

Managing Common Cacao Pest and Diseases

 Pruning – to increase production, makes tree maintenance easier and reduces

loses due to pest and diseases, allowing farmers to maximize their return.
 Complete and Frequent Harvesting – if done through out the year to break the
life cycle at the larva stage and reduce Cacao Pod Borer.(CPB)
 Sanitation – bury pest infected pods thereby killing the larva still in the pod to
prevent damage to healthy pods in the farm.
 Maintain Tree Nourishment –makes trees stronger to be able to produce larger
pods, to encourages flowering and allowing the tree to produce more pods.

Harvesting and Post Harvest Operations

The production of quality cacao beans involves proper processing of wet beans
with special references to the standard of quality required by the market involves:

 Pods harvesting - cacao pods are formed, grow to maturity and ripen in 160
to 180 days . Physical Indicator of ripened pods is the change in
color, green turns yellow, or dark – red purple to yellow or orange. During
the removal from the tree the care should be taken so that damaged should
be lessen but the most important, the flower cushions should not be
damaged so that they were able to produce flowers and pods for several
years.

 Pod Breaking and Removal of Seeds – open the pods after storing using
wooden baton or devised pod splitter to avoid injury or cutting the seeds may
 allow molds and insects, and broken beans are also discarded during sorting
and grading.

The Fermentation Process

There is no chocolate flavor in cacao beans without proper fermentation. During

fermentation, compounds ( precursors for chocolate flavors) are formed that will react
each other during the roasting to form chocolate flavor. It is a process that occurs in
the two steps and two locations. Fermentation of sugar in pulps surrounding in cacao
beans. Sugar transformed into alcohol and then to acetic acid and acetic acid,
produced externally, penetrate through the husk and cause biochemical reactions in
the bean that are responsible for the formation of chocolate flavor precursors. There
are factors influencing the fermentation, and these include: ripeness of the pods,
quantity of the beans, type of cacao and duration of fermentation.
Cacao should undergo five (5) days fermentation, with first turn done after 48
hours, and second turn over after another 48 hours, will normally result in lower
acidity. Fermentation progress is assessed by the odor, and internal and external color
of the beans.

Types of Fermentation

 Fermentation boxes - of 85 cm x 85 cm and 45 cm deep can accommodate

approximately 300 kg of wet beans .But as a rule all boxes with dimensions
between 75cm x 75 cm x 45cm deep or 1.0m x 1.0 m and 45 cm deep should
give reasonable fermentation for 200 kg to 400 kg of wet cocoa. For smaller
quantities during the low crop seasons it would be the best to have box with
removable dividers, maybe quartered by removable boards to be able to get 100
kg if the same box is just divided by two.

 Fermentation Heaps – In small volume operation, fermentation can be done in

heaps. Wet beans are placed on banana leaves or bamboo mats provided with
adequate perforations .Each batch should be raised from the ground by
underlying the wood or any material as base arranged with adequate spaces to
allow drainage and aeration. The heap is covered with the same material or
perforated sacks that are held in place. The heap should be adequately covered
to prevent rainwater, if any, from entering the mass and avoid contamination or
formation of molds.

 Basket Fermentation- the basket is lined with banana leaves or perforated

plastic sacks to provide drainage. The basket should be raised slightly off the
ground. Wet beans of 50 kilos or more in a batch completely ferment in 5-6
days with mixing or turning after 48 hours from loading the wet beans. The
basket containing cacao seeds should be kept under roof to prevent rainwater
from entering the mass of seeds. It is important to cover the baskets or boxes
with jute bags to avoid losses of heat which is crucial for good fermentation.
When the fermentation period is completed, the beans are ready for drying.
Cacao Beans Drying Process

Drying of fermented cocoa beans is the process of reduction moisture from 45 % to 7

%.It is actually an extended part of fermentation . As long as there is enough
moisture, flavor forming reactions in the beans continue as well browning reaction
that oxidize polyphenols and leads to reduction of astringent and bitter taste .During
the drying process, the excessive acidity is eliminated through evaporation of acetic
acid through the outer skin while it is still moist.

Sun - Drying

The best for sun drying is good quality of cacao beans .But under Philippine condition,
the most practical approach could be combined sun- mechanical drying: starting with
sun drying for 1-2 days, and finishing with artificial drying. This approach could
address the lowering of cost compared with using artificial dryers alone, while
attaining high quality dried fermented cacao beans.

Sun drying may also be done on multi-purpose drying pavements provided that the
cacao beans are placed on the receptacles made of plastic, or bamboo mats sheeting
on the cement floor. In some areas , trays made of bamboo, or plastic screen are used.
This is important to avoid contamination with dust and other foreign materials or
accumulation of foreign waste that could result to low quality, or worst , rejected cacao
beans.

Artificial Dryer

In using artificial dryers, the temperature should not exceed 60 C so that the removal
of water from the beans would be gradual. Rapid drying tends to make the beans
retain excessive amounts of acetic acid that the results to acidic beans.

Artificial dyers designed with dimensions of 6.0m x 12.0m could accommodate

approximately 5,000 kgs of fermented beans with cocoa beans layer of 21 cm .Artificial
dryers are used in most commercial operations to overcome the dependence on
weather conditions.
REFERENCES

WOOD, G.A.R. & R.A. LASS. 1987. COCOA. 4 TH Edition, Longman Scientific and
Technical

ESPINO,R.C., RAMOS, J.V. & C.S. ATIENZA.2001.Techno guide for Cacao in the
Philippines.HVCCP techno guide series no.2 ,Department of Agriculture.

COCOA FOUNDATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. 1999. Cacao Pest and Diseases. Cacao
Information Bulletin.

CENA, R.L. 2003.Establishment of Source of Planting Materials, Propagation and

Maintenance.

CENA, R.L. 2003. Seed /Budwood Garden Establishment

+ CABANGAN , R.P. 2003.Rehabilitation of Cacao. Training Hand- Out,Training,

Training of Trainers, Puerto Princesa Palawan.

CENA, R.L.2003.Establishment of Source Planting Materials, Propagation and

Maintenance.

CENA,R.L.2003.Seed /Budwood Garden Establishment

Philippine National Standard for Cacao ,final draft version, DA- BAFS, 2008.

Bureau of Agricultural Research-BAR-Elliptical Road,Diliman, Quezon City.

Printed at Bureau of Plant Industry

Information Section
January 2015