Sexual compatibility in cacao clones drives arrangements in the field leading to high yield

Sexual self-incompatibility is a very salient trait of woody plants, including cacao (Theobroma L.). In this species, most commercial clones are self-incompatible and, therefore, productivity depends on pollen flow for fruit formation due to the combinatorial ability each clone accept or reject tubes in embryo sac. To determine clones, artificial (manual) pollinations were performed between same and groups three years. total, 46 five geographical evaluated: ‘FHIA’ from Honduras, ‘ICS’ Trinidad Tobago, ‘UF’ Costa Rica, ‘CAUCASIA’ Colombia, ‘EET’ Ecuador. The results showed that, except ‘CAUCASIA’, there high level inter-compatibility groups. Cacao exceed established threshold 30% Fruit Set Success when used as female male donor. As expected, low self-compatibility rates found among studied. We propose use sexual information design planting arrangements maximize yields.