COMPARISON OF TWO SYSTEMS OF THE CACAO CROP MANAGEMENT, IN PRESENCE OF Moniliophthora roreri IN MÉXICO

Abstract

Tabasco, México is the main cacao-producing State and concentrates 70 % of the national cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) crop. Moniliophthora roreri, causal agent of frosty pod rot of cacao (FPR), is the main parasitic infestation that limits cacao production in the state; losses caused by this parasite exceed 75 % of the annual production, thus causing social, economic and environmental negative effects. The efficiency of integrated pest management (IPM) has been reported to decrease the effect of the pathogen on production; however, a broader approach is necessary to increase crop yield, economic solvency of the producer, and crop sustainability by a ready integrated crop management (ICM). This study compared a cacao ICM system against a traditional, regional cacao management (RM) system in Tabasco, México to propose the adoption of the more viable system. This comparison included the effect of management over commercial cocoa production and epidemiology of FPR; a marginal economic analysis was also performed. There were differences (P = 0.001) in the cacao production between RM and the ICM, with average yields of 228 to 1082 kg of cacao dry/ha/year, respectively. A production increase of 374.4 % was registered for ICM, compared to RM. Final incidence of FPR in ICM was 16 %, while in RM it was 80.7 %, with significant differences (P = 0.001). The incidence of FPR was reduced to 79.9 % with ICM, compared to RM. ICM produced higher gross benefits than RM, with a rate of marginal return of 177 %, so that ICM is economically advisable.