Sexual propagation of common Bahia cocoa seedlings (Theobroma cacao L.) influenced by irrigation depths and the planting seasons

Abstract

Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) is one of the most economically important species due to its use in the production of chocolate, honey, pulp, animal feed, fertilizers, jellies, butter and cocoa powder. The production of seedlings such as through sexual propagation is the essential stage for the establishment of new cocoa crops, in which the seedlings are produced by seeds. This is the most commonly used method in cocoa. Several factors interfere with the final quality of the seedlings, such as the planting season and the irrigation management. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different irrigation depths and planting seasons on the quality and growth of Bahia genotype cocoa seedlings produced through sexual propagation. The study took place at the Federal Institute of Espírito Santo, Campus Itapina, in Colatina, located in the Northwest region of the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil. The experimental design was completely randomized in a split-plot scheme. The plots consisted of six different irrigation depths: 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 mm d-1 and the subplots, of three different planting seasons: autumn, winter and spring. At 50 days after sowing, the seedlings were evaluated for the following morphological characteristics: plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, length of the root system, dry mass of the aerial part, dry mass of the root system, total dry mass and Dickson quality index. The production of Common Bahia genotype cacao seedlings is more effective in the irrigation depth of 9.44 mm d-1, demonstrating better development and higher plant quality.