VTLCS-2 (Vittal Cocoa Selection 2)

VTLCS-2 (Vittal Cocoa Selection 2) is the highest-yielding stress-tolerant clonal selection from ICAR-CPCRI. It produces about 2.7 kg dry beans per tree per year — higher than VTLCS-1 (2.5 kg) and close to VTLCH-5 (2.5–3 kg), but with the added advantage of drought and heat tolerance that the hybrids lack. Each pod has about 41 beans, single dry bean weight 1.21 g, and fat content 53% — the highest fat among CPCRI selections. Its yield is stable across years even under moisture stress, making it the most reliable choice for the drier parts of the cocoa belt.

Plant typeClonal selection
MaturityFirst bearing from year 3–4; full bearing by year 6–8
Yield potentialAbout 2.7 kg dry beans/tree/year (1,840 kg/ha)
Disease resistanceStress-tolerant (drought, heat)
SoilDeep, well-drained loam or clay loam
SeasonAll seasons

• 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
• 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

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

• Karnataka
• Kerala
• Tamil Nadu
• Andhra Pradesh

• VTLCH-1 (Vittal Cocoa Hybrid 1)

  Released by ICAR-CPCRI, Vittal. Early bearing, high yielding hybrid — about 50 pods/tree/year, pod weight 350–400 g, about 40 beans/pod, single dry bean weight about 1–1.11 g, fat content 54%.

  View variety details

• VTLCH-2 (Vittal Cocoa Hybrid 2)

  Parentage ICS 6 × SCA 6. Key advantage is tolerance to black pod rot, tea mosquito bug and low moisture stress — the safest choice for disease-prone areas. About 50 pods/tree/year, 40 beans/pod, 1–1.5 g single dry bean weight, 54% fat.

  View variety details

• VTLCH-5 / Nethra Centura

  Released 2008 by ICAR-CPCRI in the institute's centenary year ("Nethra Centura"). The highest-yielding CPCRI hybrid — about 66 pods/tree/year, 43 beans/pod, 1.11 g single dry bean weight, 52% fat. Recommended for growers wanting maximum yield.

  View variety details

• VTLCC-1 (Vittal Cocoa Clone 1)

  Released by ICAR-CPCRI as a clonal variety. Self-compatible and cross-compatible — about 75 pods/tree/year, 36 beans/pod, 0.9–1.05 g single dry bean weight, 52.5% fat. Compact 12 m² canopy. Recommended for north-eastern India.

  View variety details

• 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.

  View variety details