Estudio de la autocompatibilidad de quince genotipos élites de cacao (Theobroma cacao L.), establecidos en la estación experimental central de la Amazonía.

The present research consisted in the study of self-compatibility on fifteen elite genotypes of Theobroma cacao L. (cacao) established in Central Experimental Station of the Amazon (EECA). The methodology used was based on the cocoa and coffee program of the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIAP), 15 cocoa genotypes were analyzed and self-pollinated to form the research treatments. These genotypes came from producing farms in the provinces Napo, Orellana and Sucumbíos, localities are part of the Cocoa and Coffee Improvement Program of EECA; for the statistical analysis, the non-parametric Chi-square test of fit goodness was used, 5% probability level and with 1 degree of freedom; The variable evaluated consisted of bud break, or fertilization identified by the bulging of the ovaries and formation of small cobs, data taken at 3, 7 and 15 days; during the experiment, maintenance and sanitary pruning, weed control, fertilization, selection of flower buds and artificial pollination were carried out in the morning with due care, covering the flower with an eppendorf tube beforehand so that there would be no natural pollination. Treatments T7, T6, T14 reached self-compatibility percentages higher than 80%, while treatments T10, T9, T2, T1, T11 turned out to be self-incompatible among themselves; at 15 and 30 days, treatments T14, T13, T12, T1 did not fertilize any of the pollinated flowers, treatments T3, T5, T7, T10 reached percentages higher than 50% in fertilization. It is important to know the incompatibility of cocoa plants to obtain better yields, it is recommended to repeat the experiment at different times to see the influence of climate.