Published by the Agricultural Training Institute, this guide presents different Cacao varieties in the Philippines and its production. It hopes to help cacao growers or entrepreneurs thinking of going into cacao production as a viable business in agriculture.

1. Information, education and
communication materials series no. 9-2

2. Writer
MA. NORMA G. MADDALORA
Information Officer II, ATI-RTC 02
Technical Editor/Subject Matter Specialist
ENGR. WILLIAM V. CONTILLO
HVCC Coordinator
DA-CVIARC, Ilagan, Isabela
Graphic Artist
DANICA E. MELEGRITO
Editor
ANTONIETA J. ARCEO
Head, ISD, ATI
Advisers
RENATO MAGUIGAD
Center Director, ATI-RTC 02
ASTERIO P. SALIOT, PhD, MNSA, CESO III
Director, ATI

3. Two Major Cacao Varieties:
Forastero (foreign)
Forastero is the
most common cacao
variety. The pod has
smooth appearance,
round tip and square
base, more rounded and
larger in size than Criollo.
The color is purple or dark
red becoming yellowish
b e t w e e n r i d g e s a t
maturity. Seeds are large somewhat rounded,
purple or with purple tinges.
It is more resistant to pest and diseases
and adverse condition and more productive
than Criollo.
Average number of pods per tree is 30 or
more.
The foundation of good crop establishment
is a variety that is adopted to local
conditions, resistant to pest and diseases,
high yielding and preferred in the market.
It is therefore important to choose the
variety to plant to be able to achieve good
yield and profitable cacao enterprise.
Importance of choosing a variety:
1

4. Criollo (native)
Criollo has long, thin
husk and pointed pod
with constriction near
the base. Ridges of
pods are commonly
pronounced and sharper
than Forastero.
White Criollo become
yellow when ripe. Red
Criollo change from
purple to yellowish
orange when ripe. Criollo has the best aroma
and flavor.
Average number of pods per tree is 30.
Other Varieties
Trinitario
Trinitario is possibly
a h y b r i d b e t w e e n
Criollo and Forastero
(Amenalado). It has
variable shape and seed
character. It is famous
for its hardiness and quality of fruits. It has an
average of 30 or more pods per tree.
Brazillian hybrids
This includes crosses
b e t w e e n U p p e r
Amazon X Amenolado
and Upper Amazon x
Trinitario.
ADAPTATION
• Cacao grows in wide range of soil
conditions, but the most ideal is a deep (50
cm or more), friable clay loam, with good
internal and external drainage.
• The most ideal pH is 6.5 although cacao
can tolerate soil pH ranging from 5.5 to 8.0.
• Cacao is a tropical plant. It thrives best
in an elevation ranging from 300 to 1,200
meters above sea level.
• It needs annual rainfall ranging from 1,250
to 3,000 mm evenly distributed throughout
the year, preferably 1,500 to 2,000 mm with
dry season of not more than three months.
• It requires a warm and humid climate
similar to tropical forests with a temperature
ranging from 18 to 32 degrees Centigrade.
• Artificial humidity can be applied by
providing artificial shades with temperature
ranging from 22 to 32 degrees Centigrade.
• Cacao thrives best in areas under Type IV
climate.
72

5. Recommended Clones/
Varieties
BR 25 ( CC-99-05)
• Reddish (red with
green) pod color when
still young that turns
yellow as it matures.
• Leaves are elliptical in shape with wavy
leaf margins.
• Leaf length and width ratio is 11:4:04 cm.
• First flowering starts at 16.12 months and
fruiting follows at 17.7 months.
• Pod shape is AMELONADO characterized
by an ovoid shape without a prominent
point and with a diameter greater than
50% of the length.
• It has superficial ridges, and a usually
smooth surface, although they can
be rugose in some cases with a small
bottleneck.
• Pod index is 23.1 pods per kg of dried
beans. Pod length is 17.02 cm and has a
width of 7.07. The number of beans per pod
is 27 and violet in color.
• Resistance to insect pests and diseases is
moderate.
• Pod length and width ratio is 16.02:9.45 cm
Pod color is green when young and turns
yellow when mature with wall thickness of
1.35 cm.
• Pod length is about 17.97 cm and has
width of about 8.67 cm.
• Pod is red in color while still young and
becomes yellow/orange when mature.
• The podwall is around 1.80 cm thick.
• Bean color is violet and a hundred beans
weigh about 182 grams.
• It is moderately resistant to insect pests and
diseases.
• Leaf shape is elliptical
with smooth leaf
margins.
• Leaf length is 32.73
cm with an average
width of 12.52 cm.
• It flowers at 21.10 months and bears fruit
after three months or at 24.12 months.
• Pod shape is Amelonado and is red in
color while still young and becomes yellow
or orange when mature.
• The pod wall is 1.40 cm thick with 34 beans
per pod.
• Pod index is 25 pods/kg of dried beans.
• It is moderately resistant to most pests and
diseases.
K2 Variety
36

6. • Leaf shape is
elliptical with
wavy leaf
margin.
• Leaf length and
width ratio is
29.95:10.01 cm.
• Starts to flower at the age of 17.63 months
and fruiting follows at 19.63 months.
• Pod shape is Cundeamor describe as a
variety with elongated cylindrical fruit with
ridges. A rugose surface, pronounced
bottleneck and sharp point.
• Pod index is 16.2 pods/kg with 44 beans
per pod. Canopy diameter is 195 cm.
Bean is striped.
• Pod length and width ratio is 16.2:9.45 cm.
• Moderately resistant to insect pests and
diseases.
ICS 40
3. UIT 1
• It has elliptical
leaf shape with
wavy leaf margin.
• Leaf length and
w i d t h r a t i o i s
22.36:8.13 cm.
• It flowers at the age of 16.80 months in the
stage of first fruiting.
• Pod shape is Cundeamor. Pod length is
20.07 cm and width is 8.65 cm.
• Pod is yellow when mature and green
when pod is still young with wall thickness of
1.02 cm.
• Pod index is 21.69 pods/kg with 45 beans
per pod. Bean is violet in color.
• Canopy diameter is 278 cm. Moderately
resistant to insect pests and diseases.
• It has an
elliptical leaf
shape with
smooth leaf
margins.
• Leaf length is
31.31cm with a
mean width of 13.44cm.
• It flowers at 23.20 months and bears fruit at
25.10 months.
• Pod shape is Amelonado with a superficial
ridges and a smooth surface.
• Rugosity also appear in some cases. Pod
index is 19.2 pods/kg of dried beans.
4. K1 Variety
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