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The Criollo cacao tree (Theobroma cacao L.): a review

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Abstract

In commercial terms, Criollo cacao trees (Theobroma cacao L.) are reputed to be the source of the commercial product (fermented and dried cocoa beans), which sells for the best price on the market. Nevertheless, the term “Criollo” has numerous meanings and interpretations depending on if it is used by commercial users or botanists, growers or breeders. Our review aims to specify which cocoas can justifiably carry the Criollo name. “Criollo” is a botanical subspecies of Theobroma cacao, i.e. Theobroma cacao subsp. cacao; however, the true Criollos form just one of the ten currently accepted genetic groups in the species. We thus provide an overview of genetic studies on the subject (published or not), along with what is currently known about “True Criollo” or “Ancient Criollo” cacao trees. In fact, there are few representatives in collections that are duly acknowledged to be true Criollos, particularly in the two International Cocoa Genebanks, where only seven clones are available. It is nonetheless certain that some true Criollos do exist in other collections but have not been formally identified (by genetic studies) as members of the Criollo genetic group. Likewise, some true Criollos, be they cultivated or subspontaneous, exist in Mexico and Central and South America (Venezuela and Colombia). However, certain clones called “modern Criollos”, which are closely related to the true Criollos but arise from hybridization with other genetic groups, are more common.

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Fig. 1

(Data from Motamayor et al. 2008)

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Notes

  1. Forastero = foreign (but from another region, not another country).

  2. Trinitario = hybrid between Criollo and Amelonado, from Trinidad.

  3. In the rest of the text, the spelling of the term “criollo” is that adopted by the respective authors (with or without capitals, with or without S in the plural).

  4. Term which should not be used because it is too vague (Motamayor et al. 2010).

  5. ICS = Imperial College Selection.

  6. ICGD = International Cacao Germplasm Database (http://www.icgd.reading.ac.uk/index.php).

  7. CRC = “Cocoa Research Centre (University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago)”.

  8. RAPD = Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA.

  9. RFLP = Restriction Fragment-Length Polymorphism.

  10. AFLP = Amplified Fragment-Length Polymorphism.

  11. Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza, Turrialba, Costa Rica.

  12. SSR = Simple Sequence Repeats.

  13. “Institut Français de Madagascar”.

  14. “Foibem-pirenena momba ny Fikarohana ampiharina amin'ny Fampandrosoana ny eny Ambanivohitra” = “National Centre for Research applied to Rural Development”.

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Acknowledgements

Our sincere thanks go to M. Barel, Ph. Bastide, G. Lockwood, L. Motilal and D. Zhang for their assistance and to P. Biggins for the English translation.

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Authors

Contributions

PL: Coordinated the research project, PL: Conceived and designed the experiments, PL, JCM: Analyzed the data, PL, JCM: Wrote the paper.

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Correspondence to P. Lachenaud.

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Funding

The study was partly funded by Mrs V. Paré (Le Cacaotal – Plantations - Collections).

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Lachenaud, P., Motamayor, J.C. The Criollo cacao tree (Theobroma cacao L.): a review. Genet Resour Crop Evol 64, 1807–1820 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-017-0563-8

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