Beans of the species Theobroma cacao L., also known as cacao, are the raw material to produce chocolate. Colombian cacao has been classified as a fine flavor cacao that represents the 5% of cacao world’s production. Colombian genetic resources from this species are conserved in ex situ and in-field germplasm banks, since T. cacao has recalcitrant seeds to desication and long-term storage. Currently, the collection of T. cacao of the Colombian Corporation of Agricultural Research (CORPOICA) has approximately 700 germplasm accessions. We conducted a molecular analysis of Corpoica’s cacao collection and a morphological characterization of some accessions with the goal to study its genetic diversity and population structure and, to select interesting accessions for the cacao’s breeding program. Phenotypic evaluation was performed based on 18 morphological traits and 4 biochemical traits. PCA analysis of morphological traits explained 60.6% of the total variation in seven components and 100% of the total variation of biochemical traits in four components, grouping the collection in 4 clusters for both variables. We explored 565 accessions from Corpoica’s germplasm and 252 accessions from reference populations using 96 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) molecular markers. Molecular patterns of cacao Corpoica’s collection were obtained amplifying specific alleles in a Fluidigm platform that used integrated circuits of fluids. Corpoica’s collection showed highest genetic diversity [Expected Heterozygosity (HE = 0.314), Observed Heterozygosity (HO = 0.353)] that is reduced when reference populations were included in the dataset (HE = 0.294, HO = 0.261). The collection was divided into four clusters based on population structure analysis. Cacao accessions from distinct groups showed some taxonomic concordance and reflected their geographic origins. For instance, accessions classified as Criollo were clearly differentiated in one group and we identified two new Colombian genetic groups. Using a number of allelic variations based on 87 SNP markers and 22 different morphological/biochemical traits, a core collection with a total of 232 accessions was selected as a primary genetic resource for cacao breeders.

Figure 1. Haplotype frequencies obtained for the evaluation of 272 samples, the most frequent haplotypes are H5 (light blue) and H1 (dark blue). Figure 3. Genetic distances inferred using Neighbor-Joining (NJ). Classification follows the faunistic zones proposed by Kattan et al (2004): yellow (Inter-Andean Slopes), blue (Cauca Valley watershed), violet (Magdalena Valley watershed), red (Ecuador), deep blue (Honduras). The composition and heterogeneity analysis of COI sequences allowed the establishment of variability at the inter and intra specific levels. This variation could identify significative divergence between individuals of N. elegantalis. Figure 3. Heterogeneity (He) of the COI in N. elegantalis. Figure 2. a) Geographical distribution of most common N. elegantalis haplotypes in Colombia, b) Clasification of the 5 sub-regions proposed by Kattan et al., (2004), also refered to by the author as faunistic zones. Cauca Valley, Central Cordillera and Magdalena Valley are the three sub-regions where all Colombian individuals come from.

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Neoleucinodes elegantalis Guenée (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) represents the most damaging pest of the Solanaceae family. Current studies have demonstrated that the species has differentiated into four races according to variations in female genitalia, wing morphometrics and sequencing of the cytochrome Oxydase (CO1) mitochondrial gene. The number of males captured in Colombia and Ecuador were registered using traps baited with two sex pheromone: Neolegantol ® and P228. These pheromones were synthesized using natural female pheromones collected in Solanum lycopersicum L. plantations in Venezuela. In Colombia, the number of male catches was significantly higher for Neolegantol ® than for P228 and this number was significantly higher on S. lycopersicum followed by S. quitoense and S. betaceum. The haplotype net obtained with the CO1 gene produced two main clusters: one cluster was comprised by specimens from S. lycopersicum and S. quitoense plants (both with medium sized female genitalia) and the other cluster by specimens from S. betaceum (large sized genitalia). The Neolegantol® pheromone was also tested in Ecuador, however, insignificant number of males were attracted. Results suggest that pheromone composition or concentration, host biotypes and geographic location are relevant to monitor populations of N. elegantalis. Further studies of the species should concentrate on establishing the pheromone composition and concentration among the four biotypes.