Mobilization of stored carbohydrates to developing leaves and fruits of cocoa plants (Theobroma cacao L.). In: Agrotrópica v. 1 p. 122-127, 1989.

Abstract

The contribution of stored carbohydrates to leaf growth in young plants grown in greenhouse and to fruit growth in cocoa trees grown in field was examined. A set of plants with no mature leaves removed constituted the control (intact plants) and another with alI the mature leaves (source for photosynthate) removed constituted the defoliated plants. In the young plants the leaf area, relative growth rate and stem elongation, and in the trees the fresh and dry weights of the fruits were measured. No significant difference was observed for the leaf growth between the defoliated and intact plants. Significant difference between illtact and defoliated plants was observed for the stem elongation in the young plants and for the dry matter accumulation in the husk and seeds in the trees. Although the defoliation had significantly reduced the dry matter accumulation in fruits, the fruit dry weight of the defoliated plants still was about 40% of that of the intact plants. The results are discussed in terms of the reserve contribution to the vegetative and fruit growth in cocoa plants.