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ccn-51 cacao

Theobroma cacao L.

Family: Malvaceae · Genus: Theobroma

Secondary II Medium No biomass production
USAID Digital Development · CC BY · Wikimedia Commons

Ecuadorian hybrid clone (IMC-67 × ICS-95) selected by Homero Castro in the 1960s. Compact (4–5 m), self-compatible, high yield (up to 4 t/ha), and tolerant to witches'-broom. Replaced diseased Forastero plantings across Bahia. Cup is more acidic and bitter than Forastero — destined for commodity cacao.

📚 Synonyms

Scientific synonyms: Theobroma cacao 'CCN-51', Theobroma cacao 'Colección Castro Naranjal 51'

Götsch succession

Götsch stage
Secondary II
Ecological role
Late secondary
Primary stratum
Medium
Strata
Medium, Low
Biomass class
No biomass production

Environment

Light requirement
Partial shade
Water requirement
High
Drought tolerance
Low
Waterlogging tolerance
Low
Soil pH range
5–7
Preferred soil texture
Loamy, Clayey
Hardiness zones
11–13
Frost tolerance
10.0 °C

Morphology

Mature height
4–5 m
Recommended spacing
2.5–3 m
Root system
Taproot
Root depth
Medium
Growth rate
Fast
Lifespan
25–40 years
Time to first harvest
30 months
Productive lifespan
25 years

Biomes & climate

Köppen classes

Where it fits in a guild

Ccn-51 cacao takes the Medium stratum in the Secondary II phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

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Emergent High Medium · ≈5 m Low Ground cover

🪴 Cultivation

Spacing 3×3 m in syntropic; 3×2.5 m in dense monoculture. Vigorous response to partial shade (50–60%).

📅 Phenology

Flowering months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

Fruiting months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

❓ Frequently asked questions

How long until the first harvest of ccn-51 cacao?

The first harvest of ccn-51 cacao comes around 30 months after planting.

What spacing is recommended for ccn-51 cacao?

The recommended spacing for ccn-51 cacao is 2.5–3 m.

How tall does ccn-51 cacao grow?

At maturity, ccn-51 cacao reaches 4–5 m tall.

When does ccn-51 cacao fruit?

Fruiting of ccn-51 cacao occurs in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.

When does ccn-51 cacao flower?

Flowering of ccn-51 cacao occurs in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.

What stage and stratum does ccn-51 cacao occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, ccn-51 cacao belongs to the secondary ii stage, occupying the medium stratum.

Functions

🍎 Fruit 🍯 Melliferous

Propagation

Grafting, Cutting

Citations

  1. PeerJ — Theobroma cacao L. cultivar CCN 51: a comprehensive review (description, height_min_m, height_max_m, time_to_first_harvest_months)
  2. Ceplac/Mapa — Avaliação de clones de cacaueiro (primary_stratum)
  3. Useful Tropical Plants — Theobroma cacao (ph_min, ph_max, root_system, root_depth, waterlogging_tolerance, soil_texture_preference)
  4. PFAF Plant Database — Theobroma cacao (hardiness_zone_min, hardiness_zone_max, frost_tolerance_c)

External references

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