Plantation Crops

Training and pruning of cocoa

• Cocoa shows dimorphic branching ( i.e., Branching in morphologically distinct forms) .
• Jorquette: It is the point where in chupon ( i.e., vertical/orthotropic growth of seedlings) terminates to produce fan branches.
• Chupon : It is the main stem coming from the seedlings i.e., vertical / orthotropic shoots. It is determinate in growth.A chupon or vertical growth of plant terminates at the jorquette where 4-5 fan branches develop. Further chupon develops just below the jorquette and continues vertical growth till another jorquette is formed.
• Fan branches : It refers to the side branches which are plageotropic in growth and are almost horizontal, produced at the point of jorquette.
• Pruning in Cocoa: Cocoa grows in a series of storeyes. The chupon or vertical growth of the seedlings terminate at the jorquette, where 4-5 fan branches develop. Further, chupon develops just below the jorquette and continues its vertical growth till another jorquette forms and so on.

  • When first jorquette develops at a height of about 1.50m (5ft) the canopy will form at a convenient height for harvesting and other operations. It is desirable to limit the height of the plant at 1.50m (I-jorquette) only by periodical removal of chupon growth. A second jorquette may be allowed to develop if the first one formed is very close to ground. Normally 3-5 fan branches are developed at each jorquette and if fan branches exceeds 5 number remove the weak fan branches.

Pruning of cocoa
An un pruned trees produces four or more tires attaining a height of about 15 m or more. Development of branches of the new storey usually leads to degeneration of the lower storey,
Aim of pruning : To get maximum leaf area to avoid self – shading of leaves. Only the branches on the outside part of the canopy ( exposed to sun light) of the tree will produce photosynthates and thus make a real contribution to the carbohydrate reserve of the tree. In a cocoa planted at 2.7 m x 5.4 m and a canopy area of 15 -20 m2 (is optimum) is found to give higher bean yield. .
Cocoa grows in a series of stories or tiers. Seedlings normally grow unbranched to a height of 1 to 2 m. The terminal bud then ceases growth and 3 to 5 lateral branches (fan branches) develop at that point of jorquette. Further increase in height is due to the development of chupon/sucker ( Vertical growth) just below the jorquette.
First storey : When first jorquette developes at about 1.5 m height, the canopy will be at a convenient height for harvesting and other operations. Three to five fan branches are encouraged at each jorquette.