Diversity of crop wild relatives of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) and their use in the crop breeding: a literature survey

Šárka Svobodová

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

Theobroma cacao L. is a crop species under the family Malvaceae subf. Sterculioideae and the genus Theobroma L. consisting of 22 species. Theobroma cacao is used mainly to produce chocolate (processed material) and cocoa (raw material), but it offers many other uses. It is used, for example, in cosmetics and has many medicinal properties. The crop faces biotic and abiotic stresses, including several diseases and pests attacks that can damage the cacao trees, resulting in significant economic losses for producers. Wild relatives of Theobroma cacao as well as clones which are the result of intentional breeding programmes showed some resistant traits against diseases, pests, and climatic stressors. For this purpose, it is essential to value them as genetic resources and use their properties in further research in cacao breeding. There are 21 crop wild relatives of Theobroma cacao in the genus Theobroma, however, the genus Herrania Goudot, consisting of 17 species, is closely related. Even though crop wild relatives of cacao are not suitable for commercial cultivation like Theobroma cacao, breeding programmes that have been done in the past, showed that cross-pollination of some species is possible. For that reason, they should be included in breeding programmes to cultivate better performing varieties of the cacao tree.

Keywords

conservation, germplasm, cacao, plant genetic resources, Herrania, hybridization, biodiversity

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 15. 4. 2022

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: doc. Ing. Zbyněk Polesný, Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Bachelor programme:
Tropical Agriculture