Genetic diversity of cultivated and wild-type peanuts evaluated with M13-tailed SSR markers and sequencing

Thirty-one genomic SSR markers with a M13 tail attached were used to assess the genetic diversity of the peanut mini core collection. The M13-tailed method was effective in discriminating almost all the cultivated and wild accessions. A total of 477 alleles were detected with an average of 15.4 alleles per locus. The mean polymorphic information content (PIC) score was 0.687. The cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) mini core produced a total of 312 alleles with an average of 10.1 alleles per locus. A neighbour-joining tree was constructed to determine the interspecific and intraspecific relationships in this data set. Almost all the peanut accessions in this data set classified into subspecies and botanical varieties such as subsp. hypogaea var. hypogaea, subsp. fastigiata var. fastigiata, and subsp. fastigiata var. vulgaris clustered with other accessions with the same classification, which lends further support to their current taxonomy. Alleles were sequenced from one of the SSR markers used in this study, which demonstrated that the repeat motif is conserved when transferring the marker across species borders. This study allowed the examination of the diversity and phylogenetic relationships in the peanut mini core which has not been previously reported.     

用SSR和AFLP技术分析花生抗青枯病种质遗传多样性的比较

由Ralstonia solanacearum E.F.Smith引起的青枯病是若干亚洲和非洲国家花生生产的重要限制因子,利用抗病品种是防治这一病害最好的措施。虽然一大批抗青枯病花生种质资源材料已被鉴定出来,但对其遗传多样性没有足够的研究,限制了在育种中的有效利用。本研究以31份对青枯病具有不同抗性的栽培种花生种质为材料,通过简单序列重复(SSR)和扩增片段长度多态性(AFLP)技术分析了它们的遗传多样性。通过78对SSR引物和126对AFLP引物的鉴定,筛选出能显示抗青枯病种质多态性的SSR引物29对和AFLP引物32对。所选用的29对多态性SSR引物共扩增91条多态性带,平均每对引物扩增3.14条多态性带;32对多态性AFLP引物共扩增72条多态性带,平均扩增2.25条多态性带。在所筛选引物中,4对SSR引物(14H06,7G02,3A8,16C6)和1对AFLP引物(P1M62)检测花生多态性的效果优于其他引物。SSR分析获得的31个花生种质的遗传距离为0.12-0.94,平均为0.53,而AFLP分析获得的遗传距离为0.06～0.57,平均为0.25,基于SSR分析的遗传距离大于基于AFLP分析的遗传距离,疏枝亚种组的遗传分化相对大于密枝亚种组。基于两种分析方法所获得的聚类结果基本一致,但SSR数据聚类结果与栽培种花生的形态分类系统更为吻合。根据分析结果,对构建青枯病抗性遗传图谱群体的核心亲本和抗性育种策略提出了建议。     

Inheritance of a Lutescent-Leaf color trait in peanut.

A Lutescent-Leaf color mutant was recently found in the cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). Crosses involving the Lutescent-Leaf mutant were made both between and within subspecies of hypogaea and fastigiata to determine its inheritance. The F1, F2, and F3 data indicated that two duplicate recessive genes, designated lut1 and lut2, control the Lutescent-Leaf color trait. No maternal or cytoplasmic effects were detected among progenies from reciprocal hybridization.     

中国花生核心种质中高油酸材料的分布和遗传多样性

利用代表花生基础资源的核心种质分析花生高油酸资源的分布和遗传多样性,结果表明：在花生核心种质中油酸含量高于57%的种质40份,主要分布在密枝亚种（普通型25份和龙生型8份）,少数分布在疏枝亚种（珍珠豆型6份和中间型1份）; 除了10份资源来源于国外（ICRISAT 7 份,美国1份,日本1份和韩国1份,其他种质资源来源于中国12个省市。 同时发现高油酸种质中3份资源的含油量在55%左右,分别是Zh.h4094（油酸66.70%,含油量54.99%）, Zh.h4029（油酸63.50%,含油量55.58%）和Zh.h4319（油酸59.70%,含油量56.04%; 小区产量超过3000 kg/ha 有10 份种质,前三位分别是Zh.h0883 （4086.06kg/ha）, Zh.h1182（3955.00kg/ha）和 Zh.h2910 （3741.00kg/ha）。基于植物学和产量性状分析,前5个主成份（PC）可以解释81.17% 的变异。聚类分析,在域值为0.1942时,可分为6个组。 因此中国花生核心种质中高油酸种质存在丰富的遗传多样性,而且分布较广,高油酸种质的获得对花生高油酸育种提供基础材料。     

SSR分子标记检测出的花生类型内遗传变异

花生是我国重要的食用油和蛋白质来源作物,鉴定其DNA分子多态性对品种改良和资源评价具有重要的意义。从已公布的花生Genomic-SSR和EST-SSR引物中筛选出34对引物,用来分别鉴定花生4大类型各24份共96份品种资源的分子变异,其中龙生型资源全部来自广西,普通型资源中有11份从国外引进,有13份来自广西和国内其他省市,多粒型资源只有两份来自中国,其他22份分别来自印度、美国和非洲等地,珍珠豆型资源中有22份是来自中国各地的育成品种或农家品种,有2份来自国外。研究结果为:分别有10～16对SSR引物能在4大类型花生资源中扩增出多态性DNA片段;这些多态性SSR引物都具有多位点特性;首次为SSR分子标记设立了一个新的评价指标——区别指数,多态性SSR引物的区别指数最高达0.992;资源间的平均遗传距离,多粒型为0.59,普通型为0.48,珍珠豆型为0.38,龙生型为0.17。根据遗传距离采用最长距离法对4大类型花生资源分别进行了聚类分析,构建了资源间的遗传关系图,花生4大类型可进一步分成不同类群,资源间的亲缘关系与其来源相关。观察到PM15和PMc297的扩增产物具有类型特异性,PM15能在龙生型、普通型和多粒型花生资源中扩增出多态性条带,而在珍珠豆型花生中扩增条带完全相同,PMc297也有相似的扩增结果。由于在多粒型花生资源中检测出的遗传多样性最丰富,研究结果支持西班牙专家Krapovickas 1994年公布的花生栽培种分类系统。总之在花生4大类型内资源中能检测出丰富的SSR分子标记,开发出更多的SSR分子标记将能充分揭示花生分子水平的变异,从而使花生遗传图谱构建、分子标记辅助育种成为可能。     

Inheritance of quantitative traits in crosses between two Pisum sativum subspecies with particular reference to their breeding value

The experimental study was conducted during the period of 2008-2010 at the experimental field of the Institute of Forage Crops in Pleven. The hybridization scheme included direct and back crosses covering four varieties of forage pea (Pisum sativum L.), namely two spring ones, Usatii 90 and Kamerton from Ukraine, and a winter one from Bulgaria, Pleven 10. There was analyzed the inheritance of quantitative traits such as plant height, height to first pod, pod number per plant, seed number per plant, seed number per pod, seed weight per plant and number of fertile nodes per plant of parental components (P1 and P2) and both first (F1) and second (F2) hybrid generations. The cross Usatii 90 x Pleven 10 showed the highest real heterosis effect for plant height (8.26%), pods per plant (158.79%), seeds per plant (272.16%), seeds per pod (42.09%), seed weight per plant (432.43%) and number of fertile nodes per plant (117.14%). The cross Pleven 10 x Usatii 90 had the highest real heterosis effect height to first pod (11.06%). In F2 plants, the strongest depression for plant height (5.88%), seeds per plant (57.88%), seeds per pod (55.93%) and seed weight per plant (55.99%) was in the cross Usatii 90 x Pleven 10, for height to first pod (1.47%) in the cross Kamerton x Pleven 10 and for number of fertile nodes per plant (15.91%) in the cross Pleven 10 x Usatii 90. The highest positive degree of transgression for number of fertile nodes per plant (165.64%) and seed weight per plant (162.10%) was in the cross Pleven 10 x Kamerton and for pod number per plant (102.54%) and seeds per plant (99.13%) in Kamerton x Pleven 10. The stability of the characters was determined. Low variability in F1 and F2 was found in plant height (3.97-6.85%). Variability of number seeds per plant in F1 was highest (11.86-33.23%). For all other traits, the variability varied from average to high. A lower narrow-sense heritability coefficient was observed for plant height, height to first pod, pods per plant, seeds per plant and seed weight per plant (from 0.001 to 0.230). In few cases, such as in fertile nodes per plant (0.39 and 0.81) and seeds per pod (0.44), the coefficients ofbroad-sense heritability were higher.     

Seed germination and seedling fitness in Mesua ferrea L. in relation to fruit size and seed number per fruit

Effect of fruit size and seediness (seed number per fruit) was examined on germination and early growth of seedlings in Mesua ferrea L. Fruiting incidence (number of fruited trees in a population) and fruit loading (number of fruits per tree) vary from one year to the other, and were greater in 1997 than in 1998. Seeds from large fruits (> 40 g) are preferred for forestry plantations and those from small fruits (< 40 g) are discarded, despite a greater proportion of small fruits (63.2 %) than large fruits (36.8 %). A fruit, large or small in size, may contain one, two, three or four seeds. The germination percentage of seeds increased from 1-seeded through 4-seeded fruits both in laboratory and greenhouse conditions, and both in case of large and small fruits. Conversely, the mean seed weight and germination time decreased along this gradient, i.e. seeds from 1-seeded fruits were the heaviest and required maximum time for germination, and the seeds from 4-seeded fruits were the lightest and required minimum time for germination. The seeds from small fruits were lighter in weight, achieved lower germination percentages and required greater germination time than the seeds from large fruits in all four seeded categories. Seedlings from seeds from 1-seeded fruits survived better and with stronger vigour after 1 year of growth than seedlings from 2-, 3- and 4-seeded fruits. Further, seedling survival and vigour were greater for seeds from large rather than small fruits.     

Role of insecticides in reducing thrips injury to plants and incidence of tomato spotted wilt virus in Virginia market-type peanut

Tomato spotted wilt virus (family Bunyaviridae, genus Tospovirus, TSWV), transmitted by many thrips species, is a devastating pathogen of peanut, Arachis hypogaea L. TSWV has become a serious problem in the Virginia/Carolina peanut-growing region of the United States. During 2002, TSWV was present in 47% of the North Carolina hectarage and caused a 5% yield reduction in Virginia. Factors influencing levels of TSWV in runner market-type peanut cultivars, which are primarily grown in Alabama, Flordia, Georgia, and Texas, have been integrated into an advisory to help those peanut growers reduce losses. An advisory based on the southeast runner market-type version is currently under development for virginia market-type peanut cultivars that are grown primarily in the Virginia/ Carolina region. A version based on preliminary field experiments was released in 2003. One factor used in both advisories relates to insecticide use to reduce the vector populations and disease incidence. This research elucidated the influence of insecticides on thrips populations, thrips plant injury, incidence of TSWV, and pod yield in virginia market-type peanut. Eight field trials from 2003 to 2005 were conducted at two locations. In-furrow application of aldicarb and phorate resulted in significant levels of thrips control, significant reductions in thrips injury to seedlings, reduced incidence of TSWV, and significant increases in pod yield. Foliar application of acephate after aldicarb or phorate applied in the seed furrow further reduced thrips plant injury and incidence of TSWV and improved yield. These findings will be used to improve the current virginia market-type TSWV advisory.     

红白花斑种皮高油酸花生种质材料的创制

本研究利用粉色种皮高油酸花生G63与紫白花斑种皮普通油酸花生VG-01配置杂交组合。利用等位基因特异性扩增(AS-PCR,allele-specific PCR)鉴定出16个F_1真杂种。在F_2中筛选到_ol1_ol_2单株,并对64个F_2:3家系间的种皮色泽分离进行χ~2检测。结果表明,纯色花生∶花斑花生在0.05水平上符合9∶7,花生种皮花斑性状由2对互补基因控制,当2对基因同时处于显性时,种皮表现为纯色;当2对基因至少有1对为隐性纯合时,种皮表现为花斑。利用AS-PCR技术对334株花斑种皮F_3单株进行基因型鉴定,筛选到29株ol_1ol_1ol_2ol_2基因型的单株。利用气相色谱测定结果表明,F4种子油酸GC值介于70.77%~82.87%,油酸/亚油酸介于8.15~26.30。F4群体植株主茎高12.4~87.3 cm,平均57.2 cm,较对照冀花2号增高34.97%;第1对侧枝长91.6~196.3 cm,平均134.1 cm,较对照冀花2号增长34.28%。F5新种质的单株果重、单株果数、单株仁重、单株仁数分别为(27.16±9.51)g、(22.11±10.26)个、(20.10±7.17)g和(31.94±15.16)个。新种质9-7、14-2、14-3、17-3和17-7均为红白花斑种皮,在单株果重方面较对照冀花2号增加230.02%、165.80%、210.66%、200.65%和160.26%,在单株果数方面增加280.00%、340.00%、450.00%、210.00%和150.00%,其油酸GC值分别为80.54%、81.75%、80.63%、81.3%和81.56%。该批种质材料不仅油酸含量高,而且具有医疗保健价值,对丰富我国高油酸花生遗传多样性具有重要的现实意义。     

栽培方式对夏直播花生叶片光合特性及产量的影响

在田间试验条件下,以青花7号花生品种为材料,研究了不同栽培方式对麦后夏直播花生叶片光合特性及产量的影响.结果表明: 与传统栽培方式相比,采用夏直播高产保护性栽培方式可促进花生叶片生长,显著提高叶面积指数,且维持较高的叶面积指数和叶绿素含量的时间较长;植株功能叶片的净光合速率、气孔导度、蒸腾速率较高和胞间CO₂浓度较低,光合效率显著提高.夏直播高产保护性栽培方式下花生单株生产力较高,荚果产量显著增加,经济系数明显提高.地膜覆盖和秸秆还田均可改善夏直播花生叶片光合特性,提高花生产量.夏直播高产保护性栽培方式能够有效缓解夏直播花生生育期较短、单株生产力低等不利因素,是一项实用的夏直播花生高产栽培方法.
     

我国格木的地理分布与种实表型变异

在调查格木（Erythrophleum fordii）主要天然分布区及资源现状的基础上,研究了荚果和种子的11个表型性状在8个格木天然群体内和群体间的变异规律,探讨了种实表型变异与地理、环境因子的相关性。结果显示：格木天然林主要分布在广西、广东和福建3省区北回归线附近低海拔地区,大部分呈散生状态或小群体：格木荚果和种子的长度、宽度、形态指数以及每个荚果内种子数、种子厚度和千粒重在群体间和群体内单株间均存在显著差异：荚果性状在群体间和群体内的变异均大于种子性状：每个荚果内种子数与荚果的长度、形态指数以及种子的长度、大小呈显著正相关,种子长度和宽度与荚果大小、种子千粒重与荚果宽度均呈显著正相关：荚果形态指数与经度呈显著负相关,种子千粒重与纬度、种子宽度与海拔和年降雨量、种子形态指数与年均气温、种子大小与年降雨量均呈显著正相关。通过聚类分析可将8个格木群体分为3类：GX03单独为1类,GX01与GX02聚为1类,其余5个群体聚为1类。研究结果为进一步开展格木保护生物学和遗传育种研究奠定了基础。     

花生种子活力与贮藏蛋白质降解的关系

花生种子吸胀2d后,子叶中肽链内切酶活性上升,贮藏蛋白质开始降解。高活力种子肽链内切酶活性在吸胀2d后迅速上升,至4d时达到高峰,而中等活力种子的肽链内切酶活性上升速度缓慢。高活力种子萌发时贮藏蛋白质降解速度高于中等活力种子。中等活力种子经PEG和PUT处理可提高种子活力,也促进了种子贮藏蛋白质降解能力的提高。     

Effect of mycorrhiza and biofertilisers on reducing the incidence of Fusarium root and pod rot diseases of peanut

Pathogenicity tests of twenty-six fungal isolates were tested on peanut plants (Giza 5 cv.) and the results revealed that, Fusarium oxysporum isolate (No. I) followed by F. solani (No. II) then F. moniliforme (No III) significantly caused highest incidence of root rot disease. Also, F. moniliforme (No III) followed by F. solani (No II) then F. oxysporum (No I) gave the highest incidence of pod rot disease. The effectiveness of vescular arbuscular-mycorrhiza (VAM) at different application rates on the incidence of root rot, pod rot diseases and plant growth parameters of peanut was studied. All soil treatments with each rate of VAM significantly reduced root and pod rot diseases compared with control (rate 0%). The best reduction in the severity of both diseases with VAM was found at the rate of 3%. Application of rhizobacterin, microbin and cerialin biofertilisers at the different concentrations decreased the severity of both root rot and pod rot severity diseases compared with non-treated seeds. The greatest reduction in both diseases was achieved at a concentration of 8/100?g seeds. The highest number of pods and fresh weight (g) was achieved in seed supplemented with each biofertiliser at concentration of 8/100?g seed.     

Reproductive and Damage Potential of Ditylenchus destructor on Peanut

The reproductive and damage potential of Ditylenchus destructor on peanut, Arachis hypogaea cv. Sellie, was determined in greenhouse tests. Final nematode population densities (Pf) in roots, hulls, and seeds increased (P = 0.01) as a function of increasing initial population (Pi). Final population densities were higher in hulls than in seeds and roots. Final densities in hulls and seeds were positively (P = 0.01) correlated. Fresh root and hull weight and number of pods and seeds per plant were not affected by D. destructor. Second generation germination and pod and seed disease severity increased (P = 0.01), whereas fresh seed weight decreased (P = 0.01) as a function of increasing Pi, and Pf in seeds and Pf in hulls. At Pi 250 and higher, 10-25% of seeds germinated into second generation seedlings before harvest. At Pi 250 and higher, fresh weight of harvested seed was suppressed 20-50%. At Pi 50 or Pf greater than 20 per seed, pod disease severity was 3-7 (on a scale of 1 to 10) and 15-80% of seeds were blemished or unsound.     

Linkage between loci controlling nodulation and testa variegation in peanut

Linkage of loci controlling nodulation (N(1)) and testa variegation (V) was studied for cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). The lines M4-2 (nonnodulating, variegated; VVn(1)n(1)n(2)n(2)N(3)N(3)) and UF 487A (nodulating, nonvariegated; vvN(1)N(1)n(2)n(2)N(3)N(3)) were used as parents in the crosses M4-2 x UF 487A, M4-2 x (UF 487A x M4-2), and their reciprocals. Individual plants were evaluated for nodulation and testa variegation in the F(1), F(2), F(3), F(1)BC(1), and F(2)BC(1) generations. Data indicate that the N(1) and V loci are linked with calculated crossover percentage of 7.1%.     

Inheritance of quantitative traits in crosses between two <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pisum sativum</Emphasis> subspecies with particular reference to their breeding value

The experimental study was conducted during the period of 2008–2010 at the experimental field of the Institute of Forage Crops in Pleven. The hybridization scheme included direct and back crosses covering four varieties of forage pea (Pisum sativum L.), namely two spring ones, Usatii 90 and Kamerton from Ukraine, and a winter one from Bulgaria, Pleven 10. There was analyzed the inheritance of quantitative traits such as plant height, height to first pod, pod number per plant, seed number per plant, seed number per pod, seed weight per plant and number of fertile nodes per plant of parental components (P₁ and P₂) and both first (F₁) and second (F₂) hybrid generations. The cross Usatii 90 × Pleven 10 showed the highest real heterosis effect for plant height (8.26%), pods per plant (158.79%), seeds per plant (272.16%), seeds per pod (42.09%), seed weight per plant (432.43%) and number of fertile nodes per plant (117.14%). The cross Pleven 10 × Usatii 90 had the highest real heterosis effect height to first pod (11.06%). In F₂ plants, the strongest depression for plant height (5.88%), seeds per plant (57.88%), seeds per pod (55.93%) and seed weight per plant (55.99%) was in the cross Usatii 90 × Pleven 10, for height to first pod (1.47%) in the cross Kamerton × Pleven 10 and for number of fertile nodes per plant (15.91%) in the cross Pleven 10 × Usatii 90. The highest positive degree of transgression for number of fertile nodes per plant (165.64%) and seed weight per plant (162.10%) was in the cross Pleven 10 × Kamerton and for pod number per plant (102.54%) and seeds per plant (99.13%) in Kamerton × Pleven 10. The stability of the characters was determined. Low variability in F₁ and F₂ was found in plant height (3.97–6.85%). Variability of number seeds per plant in F₁ was highest (11.86–33.23%). For all other traits, the variability varied from average to high. A lower narrow-sense heritability coefficient was observed for plant height, height to first pod, pods per plant, seeds per plant and seed weight per plant (from 0.001 to 0.230). In few cases, such as in fertile nodes per plant (0.39 and 0.81) and seeds per pod (0.44), the coefficients of broad-sense heritability were higher.     

花生种子萌发过程中胚轴多胺氧化酶的活性变化

研究花生(Arachis hypogaea)种子萌发过程中胚轴多胺氧化酶(PAO)的活性变化及其与种子萌发的关系表明：胚轴中的PAO活性是在种子萌发过程中逐渐形成的,而黑暗条件更有利于该酶的活性形成;放线菌素D(10mg／L)、环己酰亚胺(10mg／L)处理对种子萌发的抑制率分别为26.3％和87.3％,对胚轴PAO活性的抑制率分别为41.1％和94.0％,显示胚轴中的PAO很可能参与花生种子的萌发过程,且其mRNA在种子发育过程中已合成并贮存于种子中,萌发时PAO活性的出现主要是由于这些mRNA转译合成了PAO。     

对水稻第4号染色体长臂近端粒区一个过氧化物酶基因簇的结构分析

通过对定位BAC克隆q3037(H0207F01）的序列测定和分析,在其中一个22.5kb的区域发现一个由5个第三类过氧化物酶基因（依次命名为osp1、osp2、osp3、osp4、osp5）组成的基因簇,分析表明,osp1、osp2和osp3分别含1个内含子,osp4和osp5分别含2个内含子。该5个基因分别编码338、335、336、343和346个氨基酸残基的蛋白质而且都具有N端信号肽序列,其中OSP1、OSP4、OSP5为表离子过氧化物酶,OSP2、OSP3为阳离子过氧化物酶。对5个基因间的两两比较分析和进化分析结果表明：该基因簇是通过一系列的串联基因复制事件而形成;osp5与来自玉米的ap1和来自大麦（Hordeum vulgar)的prx7为潜在的直向同源基因,而且,osp1-5与ap1、prx7构成了分泌性植物过氧化物酶基因家族中的一个的分枝。     

Burrower bugs (Heteroptera: Cydnidae) in peanut: seasonal species abundance, tillage effects, grade reduction effects, insecticide efficacy, and management

Pitfall traps placed in South Carolina peanut, Arachis hypogaea (L.), fields collected three species of burrower bugs (Cydnidae): Cyrtomenus ciliatus (Palisot de Beauvois), Sehirus cinctus cinctus (Palisot de Beauvois), and Pangaeus bilineatus (Say). Cyrtomenus ciliatus was rarely collected. Sehirus cinctus produced a nymphal cohort in peanut during May and June, probably because of abundant henbit seeds, Lamium amplexicaule L., in strip-till production systems. No S. cinctus were present during peanut pod formation. Pangaeus bilineatus was the most abundant species collected and the only species associated with peanut kernel feeding injury. Overwintering P. bilineatus adults were present in a conservation tillage peanut field before planting and two to three subsequent generations were observed. Few nymphs were collected until the R6 (full seed) growth stage. Tillage and choice of cover crop affected P. bilineatus populations. Peanuts strip-tilled into corn or wheat residue had greater P. bilineatus populations and kernel-feeding than conventional tillage or strip-tillage into rye residue. Fall tillage before planting a wheat cover crop also reduced burrower bug feeding on peanut. At-pegging (early July) granular chlorpyrifos treatments were most consistent in suppressing kernel feeding. Kernels fed on by P. bilineatus were on average 10% lighter than unfed on kernels. Pangaeus bilineatus feeding reduced peanut grade by reducing individual kernel weight, and increasing the percentage damaged kernels. Each 10% increase in kernels fed on by P. bilineatus was associated with a 1.7% decrease in total sound mature kernels, and kernel feeding levels above 30% increase the risk of damaged kernel grade penalties.     

Variation and inheritance of peroxidase activity and phenol and saccharide content in cacao in relation to susceptibility to black pod disease

The relationship between susceptibility to black pod disease and activity of peroxidases in crude extracts and soluble phenols and saccharides contents was studied in the pod cortex and in the seeds of three cacao clones: SNK413 (lowly susceptible), SNK10 (highly susceptible) and ICS95 (mildly susceptible) and in the F1 (SNK413×SNK10) and the F′1 (SNK10×SNK413) progeny. Phenol content and peroxidase activity in seeds increased as the pods matured; they were not the same in the proximal, middle and distal parts within the same pod at maturity. This variation could be correlated to the stage of development of the seeds. Total soluble saccharides and ketohexoses in the pod cortex did not vary significantly from one clone to another and could not be related to the susceptibility of the pods. Nevertheless, their contents were 2 to 4 times less in the F1 and F′1 progeny. Total soluble phenols, flavanol and hydroxycinnamic derivatives in the pod cortex were higher in the SNK413 clone. Hydroxycinnamic derivatives were not detected in the SNK10 clone and this character was transmitted to the progeny when SNK10 was male (F1 progeny). Phenolic cornpounds decreased in the F1 and F′1 progeny. These results suggest that phenolic compounds and peroxidase activity could be correlated to the susceptibility of cacao clones to black pod disease and that crossing two clones of different susceptibility produces hybrids with lower phenols and saccharides contents which may be responsible for their poor tolerance to black pod disease.