Diversity And Abundance Of Weeds Associated With Cocoa (Theobroma Cacao L.) Cultivation In Three Zones Of The Ecuadorian Tropics

Abstract

Ecuador ranks as the fourth-largest global producer of cocoa and leads in the production of fine-flavor varieties. In this context, weeds—non-crop plants with no agronomic value—pose a significant threat to cocoa productivity and development. This study aimed to characterize the weed communities associated with cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) cultivation by assessing their diversity and abundance across three tropical Ecuadorian regions: Quevedo, Buena Fe, and Valencia. Biodiversity analyses revealed that the families Caryophyllaceae, Fabaceae, and Cucurbitaceae exhibited high diversity indices. At the local scale, Buena Fe recorded the highest individual abundance, while Valencia showed elevated values in Simpson_1-D, Shannon_H, and Equitability_J indices. Floristic similarities and differences among sites were quantified using Jaccard and Bray-Curtis coefficients. The Importance Value Index (IVI) identified Geophila macropoda (Ruiz & Pav.) DC. as the most dominant species overall. Locally, Drymaria cordata (L.) Willd. ex Schult. was most prominent in Buena Fe, while Psychotria nervosa Sw. dominated Valencia. Functional analysis of reproductive traits and interference potential revealed a wide range of morphotypes and reproductive strategies, including annual and perennial life cycles and both sexual and vegetative propagation. The families Poaceae, Asteraceae, and Urticaceae were consistently prevalent. These findings underscore the ecological complexity of weed communities in cocoa systems and highlight the need for site-specific, sustainable weed management strategies.