VTLCH-4 (Vittal Cocoa Hybrid 4)

VTLCH-4 is the red-podded sister of VTLCH-3. CPCRI made it from the same Malaysian mother, EC 631534 (VTLC 5, acquired in 1968), crossed with a Nigerian accession, EC 631556 (VTLC 30, acquired in 1974). CPCRI recommended it for release in 2006. The tree is erect with a canopy of about 18 m². The pods are red and obovate with a thick husk, and a 12-year-old tree gives about 40 pods a year, with 40 beans a pod and a dry bean of 1.00–1.07 g. About 30 pods make 1 kg of dry beans. The CPCRI evaluation trial gave a mean of 1.6 kg dry beans a tree a year, which is 1,090 kg a hectare at 685 trees. The hybrid sheet calls it a precocious, high-yielding hybrid for palm-based cropping systems and water-limited conditions. The bulletin says the parents and progeny tolerate water-deficit stress and that preventive sprays are required.

Choose VTLCH-4 if water is short and you want an early-bearing hybrid from CPCRI. The trial gave 1.6 kg of dry beans a tree, close to VTLCH-3 (1.7 kg). Pick between the two by pod colour and by which one your nursery has, since CPCRI sees little yield difference. Choose VTLCH-5 if you can irrigate and want the bigger crop (2.5–3 kg a tree). Choose VTLCS-2 for bold beans. Choose VTLCH-2 if black pod rot is your worst loss.

Plant typeHybrid seedling
MaturityFlowers from about year 2 as a clone and year 4 as a seedling (CPCRI calls it precocious)
Yield potentialAbout 1.6 kg dry beans/tree/year in the CPCRI trial (1,090 kg/ha at 685 trees); the hybrid sheet gives 1.5–3.0 kg
Disease resistanceParents and progenies tolerant to water-deficit stress; low incidence of black pod rot and tea mosquito bug, with preventive sprays advised
SoilDeep, well-drained loam or clay loam rich in organic matter
SeasonAll seasons

• Sowing timeHigh-rainfall zones: post-monsoon, August–September. Low-rainfall zones: with the monsoon, May–June (CPCRI Cocoa Note Book)
• Seed rateAbout 277 plants an acre (685 a hectare) at 2.7 × 5.4 m under arecanut; about 200 an acre (444 a hectare) in a single hedge between coconut rows
• SpacingAbout 2.7 × 5.4 m under arecanut; 3 m apart in a single row between coconut rows 7.5 m apart
• Sowing methodOne plant per pit of 60 cm each way, half-filled with topsoil and 5 kg FYM a week before planting; shade the young plant with coconut leaves and stake it for up to 2 years
• IrrigationAbout 20 litres per tree per day by drip in rainless periods (CPCRI)
• FertilizerCPCRI schedule per tree per year: year 1, 33:13:46 g N:P₂O₅:K₂O; year 2, 66:26:92 g; year 3 onwards, 100:40:140 g
• HarvestingRed pods turn orange when ripe; heap in shade 3 days, ferment the beans 6 days, dry to 6–7% moisture

Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.

• Karnataka
• Kerala
• Andhra Pradesh
• Tamil Nadu

Do not raise seedlings from pods of your own VTLCH-4 trees. CPCRI makes hybrid seed in a bi-clonal garden where two parent clones cross; seed from a hybrid tree gives plants that differ from each other and from the mother. Buy hybrid seedlings or clonal plants from a CPCRI, DCCD or state nursery.

• VTLCH-1 (Vittal Cocoa Hybrid 1)

  An early CPCRI hybrid, cross of two Malaysian accessions (EC 631540 × EC 631534). Erect tree with a medium canopy of about 17 m², about 40–50 pods a year on a 12-year-old tree and 35–44 beans a pod. Dry bean 1–1.10 g, fat 50–53%.

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• VTLCH-2 (Vittal Cocoa Hybrid 2)

  A cross of two CPCRI accessions (IC 565551 × IC 565556). CPCRI names it as tolerant to black pod rot. Erect tree, canopy 15–20 m², about 50–65 pods a year on a 12-year-old tree, 40–45 beans a pod, dry bean 1–1.15 g, fat 50–54%.

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• VTLCH-3 (Vittal Cocoa Hybrid 3)

  A cross of two accessions (EC 631534 × EC 631546), a Malaysian and a Nigerian collection. CPCRI describes it as a high yielder tolerant to water-deficit stress. Erect tree, canopy about 18 m², 41 pods a year on a 12-year-old tree, 41 beans a pod, dry bean 1.00–1.05 g.

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• VTLCH-5 / Nethra Centura

  Cross of NA 33 × ICS 89, recommended for release in 2016, the CPCRI centenary year. The highest-yielding CPCRI hybrid: 66 pods a year on a 13-year-old tree, 43 beans a pod, dry bean 1.1 g, fat 50–52%, about 20 pods for 1 kg of dry beans.

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• VTLCC-1 (Vittal Cocoa Clone 1)

  Clone selected from the Nigerian clone NC 45, recommended for release in 2006. Self-compatible and cross-compatible. Small canopy of 12–15 m², 50–75 pods a year on a 12-year-old tree, 35–37 beans a pod, dry bean 1.0–1.05 g. Recommended for the north-eastern states.

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• VTLCS-1 (Vittal Cocoa Selection 1)

  Selection from the Malaysian clone Jerangau Red Axil (JRA), recommended for release in 2012. Red, smooth pods; 51–57 pods a year on a 12-year-old tree, 40–42 beans a pod, dry bean 1.1–1.15 g (1–1.13 g on the clone sheet), fat 50–52%. Trinitario type, adapted to water-limited conditions.

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• VTLCS-2 (Vittal Cocoa Selection 2)

  Selection from the Upper Amazon Forastero clone IMC, recommended for release in 2012. Green pods, 53–56 a year on a 12-year-old tree, 40–42 beans a pod, bold beans of 1.2–1.4 g, fat 50–53%. Only 19–21 pods make 1 kg of dry beans. A bulk (Forastero) type adapted to water-limited conditions.

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