Respiratory Changes in the Cacao Seed Cotyledon coincident with Seed Death

Abstract

CACAO seed sensitivity to cold was first demonstrated by Boroughs and Hunter¹. Previous investigations by Ibáñez^2,3 have shown that a treatment of 4° C for 10 min will destroy viability in these seeds. Such a viability loss, however, was reversible if the seeds thus chilled were immersed for 10 min in a water bath at 37° C. Under such conditions, at least 85 per cent of the seeds remained viable and grew into healthy plants. After 15 min of such a cold treatment, however, no amount of post heat treatment could prevent ultimate death of the seed.