Improving the Cocoa Genome and Phytozome

According to the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO), world cocoa bean production in 2017-2018 was 4.6 million tonnes. The world's chocolate brands could not exist without cocoa. But today the plant is threatened by climate change and devastating fungal infections. That is why Mars, Inc., a chocolate maker for more than 100 years and one of the world's largest cocoa buyers, is working with others to develop healthier, more productive cocoa plants to secure cocoa production for tomorrow's chocolate.

In 2010, a draft first genome of Theobroma cacao – the tree that produces cocoa beans – was published by a consortium led by Mars, Inc. as part of the Cacao Genome Database project. The genome sequence was assembled by the plant team at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology.

An updated reference genome for T. cacao was completed and published by HudsonAlpha scientists with funding from Mars Wrigley. The annotated genome was updated to a modern, high-quality standard and includes RNA-seq data. One of the goals of updating the genome annotation was to develop a high-quality node for cocoa used in systems orthology, so that it can be used for both functional biology and cocoa breeding.