MASS PROPAGATION OF HIGH-YIELDING COCOA CLONES: A REVIEW
Authors: Norasekin T., Ahmad Kamil M. J. and Rosmin K.
Journal Issue: Malaysian Cocoa Journal, Volume 13(1)/2021
Keywords: Theobroma cacao, somatic embryogenesis, tissue culture, genotype-specific
Published On: 1/11/2021
Abstract
Theobroma cacao L. is the most important commodity, ranking in third after oil palm and rubber in Malaysia. In addition to providing the raw material for the chocolate industry and source of income for cocoa farmers, this commodity also has a number of non-food uses in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis as an alternative for mass propagation of elite cocoa clones has been well studied for decades. However, results showed that it is genotype-specific as there is a significant variation of efficiency when applied to a wide variety of cocoa genotypes. In Cocoa Biotechnology Research Centre, MCB, the research aims to develop protocols for mass propagation and plant regeneration of cocoa superior clones to improve planting materials through investigation of various combinations and formulation of cultured media. To date, 28 of MCB’s recommended clones responded well to four different induction media. Thus, an overview of the mass propagation of high-yielding cocoa clones in Malaysia using tissue culture techniques is presented in this article.