Genetic Diversity Of Cacao Theobroma Cacao L Populations And Agronomic Traits For Breeding

The tropical cacao tree, Theobroma cacao L., is cultivated to produce seeds, the unique raw material for the chocolate industry. Thus, conservation and use of cacao genetic resources in breeding programs are vital for the cacao-chocolate global economy. Wild cacao populations have a wide geographic distribution in their native range along the Amazon basin, but northwestern Amazonia is the hotspot of cacao genetic diversity. From the rich diversity of cacao (at least twelve genetic clusters are identified) the domestication of cacao in South America led to the development of Criollo, whose s...