Cocoa propagation, technologies for production of seedlings

Abstract The vegetative propagation in cacao has been used in Central America since the beginning of the last century. However, only from the end of the century this technique has been intensified in the state of Bahia, where vegetative propagation changes have increased the yield of cocoa growing areas, especially those using other technologies associated with clonal seedlings. The use of clonal garden to collect stems in nursery can reduce by 80% the space required for maintenance of stock plants. On the other hand, the buds obtained from orthotropic and plagiotropic shoots are used to improve the performance protocols and reduce production costs of seedlings. Among the current and future challenges in the production of cocoa seedlings emphasizes the somatic embryogenesis and rootstock with disease resistance. These technologies to increase the productivity of the crop and permit Brazil return to the exporter condition of cocoa beans, which does not occur for more than two decades.