VTLCS-1 (Vittal Cocoa Selection 1)
Released by ICAR-CPCRI through clonal selection. Stress-tolerant, heavy bearer — 55 pods/tree/year, 42 beans/pod, 1.3 g single dry bean weight (heavier than most hybrids), 52% fat. Best for areas with dry-season stress.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Cocoa Bean
- Type
- Clonal selection
- Season
- All seasons
- Maturity period
- First bearing from year 3–4; full bearing by year 6–8
- Seed rate
- About 200–270 plants per acre at 2.7 × 2.7 m
- Expected yield
- About 2.5 kg dry beans/tree/year (1,700 kg/ha)
- Suitable soil
- Deep, well-drained loam or clay loam
- Release
- ICAR-CPCRI, Vittal, Karnataka — clonal selection
About this variety
VTLCS-1 (Vittal Cocoa Selection 1) is a clonal selection from ICAR-CPCRI bred for stress tolerance. It handles drought and heat better than the standard hybrids, making it a strong choice for areas where dry-season moisture stress limits cocoa productivity. It produces about 55 pods per tree per year with 42 beans per pod. The single dry bean weight is 1.3 g — heavier than most CPCRI hybrids (1–1.11 g), which means fewer beans meet the Grade I weight threshold. Fat content is 52%. At full bearing it yields about 2.5 kg dry beans per tree per year.
Key characteristics
Sowing & cultivation
- Sowing timeJune – September (monsoon)
- Seed rateAbout 200–270 plants per acre at 2.7 × 2.7 m
- SpacingAbout 2.7 × 2.7 m or 2.7 × 5.4 m
- Sowing methodOne budded/grafted plant per prepared pit between palm rows
- IrrigationAbout 20 litres per tree per week through drip in summer — especially important for this stress-tolerant variety to maximise yield
- FertilizerBearing trees: 100:40:140 g N:P₂O₅:K₂O per tree per year + 10–15 kg FYM
- HarvestingRipe pods cut every 10–15 days; beans fermented 5–7 days, dried to 6–7% moisture
Soil & climate
Soil
- Suitable soil
- Deep, well-drained loam or clay loam
- Irrigation
- Good drainage essential
Climate
- Maturity
- About 20–32°C; tolerates heat stress better
- Irrigation
- About 1,250–2,500 mm/year; tolerates dry spells better than standard hybrids
- Climate
- Warm, humid tropical; selected for stress tolerance in dry-season periods
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
First bearing from year 3–4; full bearing by year 6–8
Expected yield
About 2.5 kg dry beans/tree/year (1,700 kg/ha)
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
Pest & disease considerations
Major diseases
Major pests
Management notes
- Even though stress-tolerant, provide irrigation in dry months for best yield.
- Remove rotten pods promptly — standard sanitation applies.
- Heavy beans may need separate grading from lighter-beaned varieties.
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Stress-tolerant — handles drought and heat better than standard hybrids
- Heavy beans (1.3 g) — premium for bulk and Grade I classification
- High yield (2.5 kg/tree/year) comparable to VTLCH-5
- Good pod count (55/year) with 42 beans/pod
Things to consider
- Clonal material may be harder to source than hybrid seedlings
- No documented black pod rot tolerance — manage through sanitation
Suitable regions
Dry-season stress-prone cocoa areas in South India.
- Karnataka
- Kerala
- Tamil Nadu
- Andhra Pradesh
Frequently asked questions
How does VTLCS-1 compare to VTLCS-2?
Both are stress-tolerant clonal selections. VTLCS-2 yields slightly more (2.7 vs 2.5 kg/tree/year) and has higher fat content (53% vs 52%). VTLCS-1 has heavier individual beans (1.3 g vs 1.21 g). Both are good choices for stress-prone areas — pick based on what matters more: bean weight or total yield.
Sourced from: ICAR-CPCRI — Cocoa Varieties. editorial policy.