Evaluation of cocoa introductions (Theobroma cacao L.) on Ddamba island, Mukono district

Abstract

Elite seed of Trinidad Selected Hybrids and Costa Rica introductions of cocoa were planted in 1987 and quarantined on Ddamba island in Lake Victoria, Mukono district. There was no consistent evaluation of these materials for the initial 10 years because of lack of funds. With availability of funds from USAID/ IDEA, cocoa research was revived at Coffee Research Institute (CORI) and the Ddamba materials evaluated from 1999 to 2001. At the beginning of the evaluation only 1 tree of Trinidad Selected Hybrids, 90 trees of Costa Rica introductions, and 164 trees of local materials were surviving. No new disease or insect pests were observed on the introductions but just like the locals, they were affected by the major diseases and insect pests found on cocoa in Uganda. The major diseases found were pod rot (Phytopthora sp), and the insect pests were scales, mealybugs, aphids, lepidoptera, mites and vertebrate pests such as monkeys and squirrels. There were 1¹/₂ times more trees among Costa Rica introductions bearing over 40 pods/tree as compared to the locals. However neither the parents nor the progeny of the introductions could be identified. Since it was apparent that the Costa Rica introductions might have good qualities, the seeds of these materials are being propagated in the nursery at the Coffee Research Institute.