Elite cacao clonal cultivars with diverse genetic structure, high potential of production, and good organoleptic quality are helping to rebuild the cocoa industry in Brazil

Authors: LAZARO, HELLEN - University Of Santa Cruz - Brazil; DE ALMEIDA, ALEX-ALAN - University Of Santa Cruz - Brazil; PIRES, JOSE - University Of Santa Cruz - Brazil; BARRETTO, WALDEMAR - University Of Santa Cruz - Brazil; DOS SANTOS, EMERSON - University Of Santa Cruz - Brazil; Zhang, Dapeng; AHNERT, DARIO - University Of Santa Cruz - Brazil

Submitted to: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/2/2025
Publication Date: 4/4/2025
Citation: Lazaro, H., De Almeida, A., Pires, J., Barretto, W., Dos Santos, E., Zhang, D., Ahnert, D. 2025. Elite cacao clonal cultivars with diverse genetic structure, high potential of production, and good organoleptic quality are helping to rebuild the cocoa industry in Brazil. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26073386.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26073386

Interpretive Summary: Although cocoa is not produced in the continental US, it serves as primary raw material for the $21 billion/year US chocolate industry. Brazil is the leading cocoa producer in the Americas, producing 220,000 tons of cacao beans in 2022. In Brazil, cacao breeding is typically focused on developing clonal cultivars from cross-pollinations between two parental plants. Cacao butterfat is a key raw material for the chocolate industry, as well as for the production of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. Increasing cacao butterfat content has been a major breeding goal for cacao. The present study aimed to identify promising parental plants to improve butterfat content based on their potential to produce superior offspring in a breeding population. The hybrid plants were obtained by controlled pollinations, and the butterfat content of each resulting progeny was tested. Parent and progeny plants from the Amazon region had higher butter fat content than traditional varieties. Promising parental plants were identified to increase butterfat content. Cacao breeders will use parental plants from the Amazon region to increase butterfat content of new cultivars.

Technical Abstract: Cacao butterfat is an important raw material for the chocolate industry, as well as for the production of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. Increasing cacao butterfat content has been a main breeding goal for cacao genetic improvement. The present study aims to identify promising parental lines to improve butterfat content based on their potential to produce superior offspring in a breeding population. Field experiment of 16 cacao parental clones and their 64 hybrid family combinations was conducted in the University of Santa Cruz (UESC), Bahia, Brazil. The hybrids plants were obtained by controlled pollinations using a partial diallel mating design. Butterfat content of each tested cacao genotypes was assessed. Analysis of variance, Scott–Knott mean comparison tests, general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) were performed. Significant differences were obtained for butterfat content in seed of the parental plants. Genotypes from the Amazon region demonstrated higher butterfat content, whereas genotypes from Trinidad (Trinitrios) and Criollo origin exhibited lower values. Result of diallel analysis indicated that both additive and non-additive effects were relevant to butterfat content, while the additive effects had a greater influence. Promising parental clones including SCA 6, CEPEC 89, BE 4, CCN 51, ICS 9, and P4B were identified for crosses aiming to increase butterfat content. The study provides novel insight into cacao parental selection, and the resultant information is highly useful to facilitate the use of cacao genetic diversity for crop improvement.