Abstract

GRAZIANI DE FARINAS, Lucía; ORTIZ DE BERTORELLI, Ligia; ANGULO, Johanna  and  PARRA, Pablo. Características físicas del fruto de cacaos tipos criollo, forastero y trinitario de la localidad de cumboto, venezuela . Agronomía Trop. [online]. 2002, vol.52, n.3, pp.343-362. ISSN 0002-192X.

Summary In order to perform a physical characterization of criolo, forastero amazonico and trinitario cocoa fruits, Theobroma cacao L., from La Isleta, Vega de Santa Cruz and El Paraiso plots in the area of Cumboto, Aragua State the following variables were evaluated: pod, husk and placenta weights, number of total, viable and vain seeds per pod, pod index, fruit dimensions, forms and colors, number of superficial and deep furrows, depth of primary furrows, and appearance and color of the mucilage. Results showed a variation of physical characteristics between cocoa types and plots. Mature and immature fruits showed a diversity of forms, textures and colors, as a result of cross fecundation. Fruits from criollo cocoa types showed the lowest number of total seeds and viable seeds per pods, less placenta rows, leaner husks, deeper primary furrows, and greater number of deep furrows, but less superficial furrows. Trinitario and forastero fruits did not show statistical differentiations regarding these characteristics. Furthermore, fruits from La Vega de Santa Cruz plots were heaviest, with greatest placenta weight, and longest, highligh-ting the advantages of practicing an adequate agronomic management of the crop

Keywords : Theobroma cacao L.;; pods; physical indexes.