Genetic Improvement of Cacao

Abstract

This is the first publication which deals exclusively with cacao genetic improvement and is notable for its logical sequence dedicated to the subjects in its 13 chapters:
1. Environmental and socio-economic improvement. C.A.S. Souza & L.A.S. Dias. The principal aspects of cultivation and the strategies of environmental improvement are presented.
2. Diversity in the genus Theobroma. C.R.S. Silva, A.V.O. Figueira & C.A.S. Souza. The diversity in Theobroma is focussed with a view to improvement by incorporation of genes from wild species into the genetic make up of the cultivated one.
3. Origin and distribution of Theobroma cacao L: a new scenario. L.A.S. Dias. A new scenario is presented for the origin and distribution of cacao, with important reflections on the collection and conservation of germplasm.
4. The ecology of natural populations. C.M.V.C. Almeida. The ecology of natural populations in its most diverse aspects is dealt with.
5. Genetic resources. C.M.V.C. Almeida & L.A.S. Dias. How to collect, conserve, evaluate, characterize and use germplasm saved are topics developed.
6. Strategies and methods of selection. L.A.S. Dias & M.D.V. Resende. From Ch. 6 onwards the book focuses on the actual genetic improvement. For the first time, the methodology de mixed mathematical models is introduced to cacao breeding, with a view to making it more precise and efficient.
7. Breeding for disease resistance. R.A. Rios-Ruiz.
8. Biochemical and physiological bases of disease resistance. M.A.G. Aguilar & M.L.V. Resende.
Chs. 7 and 8 cover the state of the art of resistance to diseases, in particular witches' broom, emphasizing the heredity mechanism and the bases of resistance.
9. Clonal breeding. A.B. Pereira. Asexual breeding is highlighted and covered.
10 Molecular markers in breeding. A.V.O. Figueira & J.C.M. Cascardo. The introduction of molecular markers in breeding and the possibilities open for these new tools are reported.
11 Breeding research. L.A.S. Dias & M.D.V. Resende. Another grey area, never really covered in cacao breeding, is highlighted.
12 Contributions of breeding. L.A.S. Dias. Breeding success is illustrated by the comparative results of improved cultivars against traditional ones.
13 New paths in improvement. L.A.S. Dias. This capitalizes on all improvement aspects, harmoniously integrating sexual and asexual improvement and biotechnology to project the future of breeding programmes.