Genetic analysis of cocoa beans has created a new classification of CIRAD cocoa beans based on differences in the genome of cocoa beans grown in different areas.
For example, genetic studies of the Nacional cocoa bean variety (Ecuador) showed that this genetically has no relation to the elite Criollo cocoa bean variety or the Forastero cocoa bean mass variety. Based on this genetic information, the cocoa variety Nacional was isolated into an independent genetic group.
Another example: cocoa beans that are labeled with Trinitario, according to genetic studies, are a mixture of many other varieties of cocoa beans, for example:
- Amazon-Criollo cocoa bean hybrids come from Trinidad, so they can be called true “Trinitario”, that is, Trinitario genetically belongs to the Criollo cocoa bean group (variety),
- the genotype of cocoa beans SP1 Criollo comes from Venezuela,
- a hybrid of cocoa beans MAT1-6, type MatinaAmelonado originally from Costa Rica,
- a hybrid of cocoa beans SIAL70 Amelonado from Seleção do Instituto Agronómico do Leste comes from Brazil.
The striking genetic differences between the cocoa beans, which are called the Trinitario variety, lead to the fact that this variety is better called not a variety, but a complex of Trinitario varieties.
The emergence of such a number of cocoa bean hybrids is due to the fact that breeders of cocoa beans are always in search of the best properties of cocoa beans:
- so that cocoa beans are resistant to pests, and diseases,
- for cocoa beans to be drought tolerant,
- so that cocoa beans have the ability to adapt to critical changes in climatic conditions,
- so that chocolate trees have a convenient architecture,
- to have a high quality cocoa bean crop,
- so that there is a high yield of cocoa beans.