Optimal planning of cocoa clonal selection programmes

Owusu-Ansah, F., Curnow, R.N. and Adu-Ampomah, Y. (2013) Optimal planning of cocoa clonal selection programmes. Experimental Agriculture, 49 (4). pp. 574-584. ISSN 0014-4797 doi: 10.1017/S0014479713000239

Abstract/Summary

Data from three cocoa (Theobroma cacao) clonal selection trials are used to investigate the genetic and environmental components of variation in yield and the percentage of total pods affected by black pod disease (Phytophtora pod rot). Simulations based on these estimated components of variation are then used to discuss the best choice in future of numbers of clones, replicates and years of harvest to maximise selection advances in the traits measured. The three main conclusions are the need to increase the number of clones at the expense of the number of replicates of each clone, the diminishing returns from additional years of harvesting and the importance of widening the genetic base of the clones chosen to be tested.