The authors thank the Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Cientifico, Tecnologico y de Innovacion Tecnologica (FONDECYT) for funding this research through the contract No 026-2016 of the Circulo de Investigacion para la Innovacion y el fortalecimiento de la cadena de valor del cacao nativo fino de aroma en la zona nor oriental del Peru-CINCACAO project, executed by the Instituto de Investigacion para el Desarrollo Sustentable de Ceja de Selva (INDES-CES).

The phenotypic characterization of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) plays an important role in the generation of information for the conservation of cacao germplasm. The objective of this study is to characterize phenotypically 146 ecotypes of fine-aroma native cacao (FFNC) from northeastern Peru that were collected from 280 to 1265 metres above sea level. Morphological descriptors of fruits and seeds, sensory characteristics, and productivity descriptors were used. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics with pie charts, distribution histograms, and multiple correspondence analysis. The results showed that 76.7% of the cocoa ecotypes had green immature fruits, 73% showed slight roughness on the surface of the fruit, 54% showed an intermediate thickness of the fruit wall, and 90% had the appearance of pairs of equidistant ridges. Regarding seed characteristics, 71% showed ...