MARDI Res. J. 22(1)(1994): 35–41 R.

Kasran

Effect of paclobutrazol on growth and yield of cocoa high density

plantings
(Kesan paklobutrazol terhadap pertumbuhan dan hasil koko penanaman kepadatan
tinggi)

R. Kasran*

Key words: Theobroma cacao L., KKM 22, high density planting, paclobutrazol, vegetative
growth, yield

Abstrak
Satu percubaan dijalankan untuk mengkaji kesan hormon perencat paklobutrazol
terhadap pertumbuhan tampang dan hasil koko (Theobroma cacao L.). Hormon
ini diberi sebagai lencunan tanah pada pokok koko klon KKM 22 yang berumur
1.5 tahun yang ditanam secara kepadatan tinggi (3 333 pokok/ha). Paklobutrazol
pada enam kepekatan [0, 0.125, 0.250, 0.375, 0.500 dan 0.625 g bahan aktif
(b.a.)/liter] digunakan. Peningkatan kepekatan paklobutrazol daripada 0.375
kepada 0.625 g b.a./liter didapati mengurangkan tinggi pokok, garis pusat batang,
saiz daun, internod daun dan indeks keluasan daun. Hasil daripada kajian juga
menunjukkan bahawa peningkatan kepekatan paklobutrazol daripada 0.375
kepada 0.625 g b.a./liter meningkatkan keluasan langit yang dilihat dari bawah
sudur pokok. Paklobutrazol pada 0.375 g b.a./liter sepokok paling berkesan untuk
mengawal pertumbuhan tampang tanpa kesan buruk kepada pokok. Dengan cara
ini, penggunaan paklobutrazol dapat mengurangkan kerja pemangkasan. Pada
kepekatan ini, didapati juga bilangan tapak bunga yang mengeluarkan bunga
meningkat. Manakala, kejadian layu putik berkurang walaupun pembentukan
putik tinggi. Oleh itu, bilangan buah masak dan hasil yang tinggi boleh didapati.
Hasil setinggi 2.06 t biji kering sehektar boleh didapati pada tahun yang pertama
penghasilan. Oleh itu, penggunaan paklobutrazol sebagai lencunan tanah pada
0.375 g b.a./liter didapati sesuai untuk mengawal pertumbuhan tampang sekaligus
meningkatkan hasil pokok koko klon KKM 22 yang berumur 1.5 tahun pada
penanaman kepadatan tinggi. Pada kepekatan 0.625 g b.a./liter, hormon ini
memberi kesan buruk pada pertumbuhan pokok dan saiz buah.

Abstract
An experiment was carried out to study the effects of paclobutrazol, a growth
retardant, on vegetative growth and yield of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.). It was
applied as a soil drenching to 1.5-year-old KKM 22 clone planted at high density
(3 333 plants/ha). Six concentrations of paclobutrazol (0, 0.125, 0.250, 0.375,
0.500 and 0.625 g a.i./L) were used. Increasing the paclobutrazol concentration
from 0.375 to 0.625 g a.i./L was found to reduce plant height, stem diameter, leaf
size, leaf internode and leaf area index. The results also showed that increasing
the paclobutrazol concentration from 0.375 to 0.625 g a.i./L increased the
fraction of sky visibility from beneath the canopy. Paclobutrazol at 0.375 g a.i./L

*Cocoa and Coconut Research Centre, MARDI Hilir Perak, P.O. Box 25, 36307 Sungai Sumun, Perak, Malaysia
Author’s full name: Rosmin Kasran
©Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute 1994

35
Paclobutrazol effect on cocoa growth and yield

was most effective in controlling vegetative growth without any adverse effect on
the plant. In this way, use of paclobutrazol would reduce pruning practices. It
was also found that at this concentration, the number of bearing-flower cushions
increased. While, the incidence of cherelle wilt was reduced even though cherelle
set increased. It then led to a larger number of mature pods and subsequently
increased yield. Highest yield was achieved up to 2.06 t dry bean yield/ha for the
first year of production. Therefore, soil application of paclobutrazol at 0.375 g
a.i./L was found to be suitable for controlling vegetative growth and yield
improvement of 1.5-year-old KKM 22 cocoa clone at high density planting. At
higher concentration of 0.625 g a.i./L, it adversely affected plant growth and pod
size.

Introduction but not in controlling the vegetative growth

High density planting (HDP) of cocoa
(Theobroma cacao L.) has been introduced
in recent decades in Malaysia and the
prospect of higher early yield was
anticipated. Due to the close planting of the
trees, slow growing planting materials with
high productivity to avoid self-shading
should be used. In apple cultivation, the
practice of utilising dwarfing rootstocks and
chemical growth retardants to control tree
vigour have successfully produced high
yields (Luckwill and Child 1973; Erez
1986). However, the dwarfing effects of
rootstock on scion growth have not been
detected thus far in cocoa (Tan and
Mazewin 1991). Consequently, another
alternative to control tree vigour in cocoa is
through the use of chemical growth
retardants.
Though several growth retardants have
been introduced in the market in recent
years, only chlormequat chloride (CCC,
Cycocel), daminozide (B-nine, Alar) and
ancymidol are widely used (Halevy 1985).
Another growth retardant of chlorphonium
(phosfon) has limited use as it can only be
applied to soil. The growth retardants, which
inhibit gibberellin biosynthesis or action,
stimulate flower formation in woody plants
(Bernier et al. 1981). Daminozide has been
successfully employed for controlling tree
growth, but it adversely affects fruit size
(Halevy 1985). Recently, uniconazole at the
rate of 0.5–1.5 g a.i. was found effective in
increasing flowering and fruiting in mango
of mango MA 125 (Rukayah 1989).
Paclobutrazol at lower concentration was
found effective in controlling the vigour of
apple, peach and plum without markedly
affecting fruit size compared with other
growth retardants (Quinlan 1980, 1981;
Williams 1982, 1984; Webster and Quinlan
1984; Erez 1986). Paclobutrazol inhibits the
biosynthesis of gibberellin by blocking the
conversion of kaurene to kaurenoic acid. It
can be applied either as foliar sprays, soil
drench or by injection into woody plants
(Sterrett 1985).
Several studies on the effects of
paclobutrazol on oil palm (Ng 1986), cocoa
(Teoh and Ooi 1986; Thong et al. 1986; Ho
et al. 1991) and fruits such as durian
(Khairudin 1986a) and mango (Khairudin
1986b; Kulkarni 1988; Rukayah 1989) have
been reported. In mango, soil application of
paclobutrazol at the rates of 5.0–10.0 g
a.i./tree was successful in controlling
excessive vegetative growth as well as
increasing flowering intensity, subsequent
yield and improving fruit quality (Kulkarni
1988). However, limited information is
available regarding the effect of
paclobutrazol in controlling tree vigour and
improving yield on cocoa, especially in
HDP. The objective of this study was to
determine the effects of paclobutrazol in
controlling vegetative growth and improving
reproductive characteristic of a high yielding
and vigorous cocoa clone under HDP.

36

Materials and methods
Cocoa clone KKM 22, which has vigorous
canopy, was selected for the trial. Cocoa
trees were planted at a distance of 1.5 m
within rows and 2.0 m between rows, giving
a planting density of 3 333 plants/ha. The
cocoa trees were grown under existing 60
year-old Malayan Tall coconut spaced at 9.1
m x 9.1 m triangle on Selangor series soil.
The trees were grouped into four replicates
of 10 trees/treatment per replicate and were
laid out in a randomised complete block
design.
Six concentrations of paclobutrazol of
0, 0.125, 0.250, 0.375, 0.500 and 0.625 g
a.i./L per tree were tested on 1.5-year-old
trees. Each concentration of paclobutrazol
was diluted to 1 000 mL with water and
applied in the soil surrounding the trunk
before the major flowering season (March
1992), once a year.
Before the trial, all flowering cushions
(with and without flowers at the time) were
tagged and numbered. Subsequently, after
paclobutrazol application, any new
flowering cushions that emerged were
tagged weekly. Cherelles that set were also
recorded and tagged on a weekly basis. At
the same time, any cherelles that wilted
were also recorded. The leaf area index and
percentage of fraction of sky visible from
beneath the canopy were measured non-
destructively by a LAI-2000 plant canopy
analyzer. Leaf area was determined
destructively using a leaf area meter.
Results and discussion
Vegetative growth
Increasing paclobutrazol concentration
reduced the plant height, stem diameter, leaf
area index, leaf size and leaf internode
(Figure 1). The effect was observed in the
first 3 months. A drastic reduction in shoot
and internode elongation using rates up to
10 g a.i. paclobutrazol per tree was reported
(Thong et al. 1986).
Paclobutrazol at > 0.375 g a.i./L per
tree was effective in controlling tree vigour.
Treated trees had limited growth and
R. Kasran
reduced canopy spread compared with trees
of other treatments. Consequently, the
fraction of sky visible from beneath the
canopy was increased (Figure 1). Other
studies also showed that paclobutrazol has a
significant advantage in controlling vigour
on apple, peach, plum and mango trees
(Quinlan 1980, 1981; Williams 1982, 1984;
Webster and Quinlan 1984; Erez 1986;
Kulkarni 1988). This is important to
improve the interception of light and its
distribution within the cocoa canopy. Trees
with small canopies have a better light
interception and distribution than large, thick
canopy trees in which radiation can be very
low in the inner parts. The importance of
radiation in relation to flowering and yield is
well known (Cain 1971; Jackson 1980).
Thus, it would appear that using
paclobutrazol would reduce pruning
practices, especially in HDP. Under this
planting system, excessive canopy structure
has been a major problem. Higher
concentration of paclobutrazol (0.625 g
a.i./L) had adversely affected the plant
growth which resulted in some plants being
destroyed during the study period.
Flowering and fruiting
Generally, an increase in paclobutrazol
concentration had resulted in an increase in
the number of flower-bearing cushions
(Figure 2). However, the only marked
increase was at 0.375 g a.i./L and then there
was a sharp decline with further increase of
paclobutrazol concentrations. Other study
also showed that in the low flowering cocoa
clone (BAL 208), paclobutrazol increased
flowering by 45% while the profusely
flowering clone (BAL 204) showed no
increase (Ho et al. 1991). It was also
indicated that the increase was due to more
old dormant cushions being stimulated to
flower since flowering intensity and
production of new flower cushions were
largely unaffected. Similar beneficial effects
of paclobutrazol had also been observed in
mango (Kulkarni 1988; Rukayah 1989).
Kulkarni (1988) also postulated that
37
Paclobutrazol effect on cocoa growth and yield

Height increment Stem diameter increment

(m/12 months) (cm/12 months)
LSD 0.05 LSD 0.05
0.75 2.5
●
● ● ●
0.60 2.0
●
●
0.45 1.5
●
● ●
0.30 1.0 ●

0.15 0.5
●
●

0 0
0 0.125 0.250 0.375 0.500 0.625 0 0.125 0.250 0.375 0.500 0.625
Conc.
Conc. of
of paclobutrazol
paclobutrazol(g
(ga.i./L)
a.i./L) Conc. of paclobutrazol
Conc. of paclobutrazol (g
(g a.i./L)
a.i./L)

Leaf area index increment

over 12 months Leaf size (cm2/leaf)
LSD 0.05 LSD 0.05
2.5 200 ●
●
●
190 ●
2.0

180 ●
1.5 ●
●
170
1.0 ●
160 ●
●
0.5 ●
● 150

0 0
0 0.125 0.250 0.375 0.500 0.625 0 0.125 0.250 0.375 0.500 0.625
Conc. of paclobutrazol (g a.i./L) Conc. of
of paclobutrazol
paclobutrazol(g(ga.i./L)
a.i./L)

Fraction of sky visible from

Internode length (cm) beneath the canopy (%)
LSD 0.05 LSD 0.05
3.1 ● 15
● ● ●

12
3.0
● 9
● ●
2.9
6 ●
● ●
●
2.8 ●
3

0.0 0
0 0.125 0.250 0.375 0.500 0.625 0 0.125 0.250 0.375 0.500 0.625
Conc.of
Conc. ofpaclobutrazol
paclobutrazol(g(ga.i./L)
a.i./L) of paclobutrazol
Conc. of paclobutrazol(g
(ga.i./L)
a.i./L)

Figure 1. Effect of soil application of paclobutrazol on the vegetative growth of 1.5-year-old KKM 22
cocoa clone

38
 R. Kasran

No. of flower-bearing
cushions per tree No. of cherelle sets per tree
160 75 ●
● ●
●
145 ● ●
● 60 ●
●
130
●
45
LSD 0.05
115
LSD 0.05 ●
● 30
100

0 0
0 0.125 0.250 0.375 0.500 0.625 0 0.125 0.250 0.375 0.500 0.625
Conc.
Conc. of
of paclobutrazol
paclobutrazol (g
(g a.i./L)
a.i./L) Conc. of
Conc. of paclobutrazol
paclobutrazol(g(ga.i./L)
a.i./L)

No. of mature pods per tree Wilt (%)

18 LSD 0.05 90
●
●
15 85 ● ●
●
12 80
● ●
● ●
9 ● ● 75
LSD 0.05
●

6 70

0 0
0 0.125 0.250 0.375 0.500 0.625 0 0.125 0.250 0.375 0.500 0.625
Conc.
Conc. of
of paclobutrazol
paclobutrazol(g
(ga.i./L)
a.i./L) Conc. of
Conc. of paclobutrazol
paclobutrazol(g
(ga.i./L)
a.i./L)

Figure 2. Effect of soil application of paclobutrazol on the flowering and fruiting of 1.5-year-old KKM 22
cocoa clone

paclobutrazol could promote flowering in less competition between the developing

two ways; it could either speed up and
increase the synthesis of the floral stimulus
in an inductive cycle or, more possibly,
affect the ratio of the flower-promoting and
flower-inhibiting factors. This study also
showed that increased flower-bearing
cushions generally reflected the effect of
paclobutrazol on cherelle sets and mature
pods, especially at 0.375 g a.i./L of
paclobutrazol (Figure 2).
Generally, the incidence of cherelle
wilt was particularly higher with higher
cherelle sets (Figure 2). However, there was
no significant difference in wilting incidence
at 0.375 g a.i./L compared with the control,
although this concentration significantly
increased cherelle sets. This might be due to
cherelles and vegetative growth since this
concentration was effective in controlling
excessive vegetative growth. Generally,
wilting was believed to be associated with
competition for nutrients (Humphries
1940). In other study, it was found that
cherelle wilt was particularly severe
during higher cherelle production and/or
intensive leaf flushing (Kasran and
Hashim 1992). Therefore, soil application
of paclobutrazol at 0.375 g a.i./L per tree
significantly increased pod production
compared with the other treatments.
Yield
It was clearly shown that an increase in
paclobutrazol concentrations had

39
Paclobutrazol effect on cocoa growth and yield

Table 1. Effect of soil application of paclobutrazol on pod characteristic of

1.5-year-old KKM 22 clone

Conc. of Pod Pod Bean Bean

paclobutrazol length width number/ size
(g a.i./L) (cm) (cm) pod (g/bean)
Control 15.75a 8.75a 41.0a 1.10a
0.125 13.85b 8.34a 36.4a 1.19a
0.250 13.37b 8.27a 36.4a 1.21a
0.375 13.15b 8.06ab 36.3a 1.14a
0.500 13.08b 8.03ab 36.6a 1.08ab
0.625 12.49b 7.48b 36.7a 0.95b
Mean values with different letters in each column are significantly different
at 5% level by DMRT

Total dry bean weight (kg/tree) Total dry bean yield (t/ha)
0.75 2.5
LSD 0.05 LSD 0.05

2.0 ●
0.60 ●

1.5
● ● ●
0.45
● ● ●
● 1.0 ●
●
0.30 ●
0.5

0.00 0.0
0 0.125 0.250 0.375 0.500 0.625 0 0.125 0.250 0.375 0.500 0.625
of paclobutrazol
Conc. of paclobutrazol (g
(g a.i./L)
a.i./L) Conc. of paclobutrazol (g a.i./L)

Figure 3. Effect of soil application of paclobutrazol on total annual dry bean yield of 1.5-year-old
KKM 22 cocoa clone

markedly reduced the pod size (Table 1).
Effects of paclobutrazol on bean number per
pod and bean size were not clearly observed
(Table 1). However, higher concentration of
0.625 g a.i./L significantly reduced the bean
size. The total dry bean weight was
increased at 0.375 g a.i./L, but then declined
with further increase in paclobutrazol
concentrations to 0.500 and 0.625 g a.i./L
(Figure 3). Highest yield was achieved with
an application of paclobutrazol at 0.375 g
a.i./L which corresponded to 2.06 t dry bean
weight per hectare in the first year of
production.
Conclusions
Soil application of paclobutrazol was
effective in controlling vegetative growth
and improving yield of vigorous cocoa
clones under HDP. Increasing the
paclobutrazol concentrations is found to
reduce plant height, stem diameter, leaf size,
leaf internode and leaf area index.
Consequently, the fraction of sky visible
from beneath the canopy was increased. In
this way, use of paclobutrazol would reduce
pruning practices. Concentration of 0.375 g
a.i./L was suitable for 1.5-year-old KKM 22
cocoa clone. Dry bean yield of up to
2.06 t/ha was obtained in the first year of
production. Higher concentration of 0.625 g
a.i./L should be avoided because it adversely
affected plant growth and pod size.

40

Acknowledgements
The author thanks Mr Abdul Mutalib Mohd
Ali and Mr Salleh Endut for their assistance
throughout the study. Appreciation is also
recorded to Mr Amirudin Zainal Abidin for
his assistance in using Statistical Analyses
System (SAS) computer programme.
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Accepted for publication on 13 April 1994
41