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Theobroma cacao

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Edible Medicinal And Non Medicinal Plants

Abstract

Recent studies of Theobroma cacao genetics indicated that the plant originated in the upper basin of the Amazon and its headwaters in Peru, Ecuador, Columbia and Brazil. It was distributed by humans throughout Central America and Mesoamerica. Wild cocoa population are also present in the lower Amazon basin as well as along the Orinoco river basin in Venezuela and in the Guyanas. The Amazon cocoa population form the Forastero group and are distinct from the population in Central America that form the Criollo group. The latter also has its roots in the Amazon basin. The Amelonado Forastero cocoa in Bahia has its origin in the lower Amazon basin while the Trinatrio cocoa is a natural hybrid between Criollo and the Venezuelan Forastero. Besides Latin America, cocoa is grown extensively in West Africa (Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon and Cote D’Ivoire) based on the Trinitario, Amelonado and Forastero cocoa materials; and in Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea Trinitario and Forastero materials were introduced from the Caribbean and south America.

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  1. Canberra, ACT, Australia Norriss Street 49 2905 Chisholm Aust Capital Terr, Australia

    Dr. T. K. Lim

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Lim, T.K. (2012). Theobroma cacao. In: Edible Medicinal And Non Medicinal Plants. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2534-8_30

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