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EFFECT OF PLANTING DENSITY ON YIELD AND INCIDENCE OF WITCHES' BROOM DISEASE IN A YOUNG PLANTATION OF HYBRID CACAO TREES

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 October 2008

L. A. S. DIAS ,
M. M. SANTOS ,
A. O. S. SANTOS ,
C. M. V. C. ALMEIDA ,
C. D. CRUZ  and
P. C. S. CARNEIRO
L. A. S. DIAS
Affiliation:
CEPEC, Estação Experimental ‘Filogônio Peixoto’ Present address: Departamento de Biologia Geral/BIOAGRO, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36571-000, Viçosa, MG, Brazil.
M. M. SANTOS
Affiliation:
CEPLAC/SUPOR, Caixa Postal 1801, 66635-110 Belém, PA, Brazil
A. O. S. SANTOS
Affiliation:
CEPLAC/SUPOR, Caixa Postal 1801, 66635-110 Belém, PA, Brazil
C. M. V. C. ALMEIDA
Affiliation:
CEPLAC/SUPOC/SERPE, Av. Gov. Jorge Teixeira, 86 Nova Porta Velho, 78904-300, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
C. D. CRUZ
Affiliation:
Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36571-000 Viçosa, MG, Brazil
P. C. S. CARNEIRO
Affiliation:
Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36571-000 Viçosa, MG, Brazil
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Abstract

The effect of seven planting densities on yield and witches' broom disease incidence in hybrid cacao (Theobroma cacao) trees in the Brazilian Amazon was investigated. Data collected over a three-year period showed that it was possible to optimize regional cacao yield by high planting densities (2500 and 1666 trees ha−1) and that there was no density × year interaction. However, high planting density also favoured witches' broom incidence. A growing regional interest in planting cacao clones at high planting density should be pursued with caution, since high planting densities of clones in environments under strong pressure of selection for the witches' broom pathogen, such as in the Amazon region, are still a risky strategy. Alternatives to the high planting density system are presented and discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
Experimental Agriculture , Volume 36 , Issue 4 , October 2000 , pp. 501 - 508
Copyright
© 2000 Cambridge University Press

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