Effects of Fermentation Periods and Drying Methods on Postharvest Quality of Cocoa (Theobroma Cacao) Beans in Ghana

Table 2

Cut test properties of cocoa varieties under different fermentation and drying periods.

Fermentation period (days)	Variety	Drying method	Average bean count	Unusual beam count	Average tolerance level (ATL)	Germinated beans
4	Amazonian	Solar biomass hybrid dryer	104.67 ± 0.88^ab	27.67 ± 1.45^ab	0.09 ± 0.02^a	0.50 ± 0.12^a
		Traditional sun dying	107.33 ± 0.33^bc	29.00 ± 0.58^abc	0.09 ± 0.00^a	0.87 ± 0.30^abc
	Hybrid	Solar biomass hybrid dryer	103.00 ± 0.58^a	26.00 ± 0.58^a	0.08 ± 0.00^a	1.00 ± 0.00^c
		Traditional sun dying	104.33 ± 0.33^a	26.00 ± 1.15^a	0.08 ± 0.00^a	0.93 ± 0.07^bc
5	Amazonian	Solar biomass hybrid dryer	108.00 ± 0.58^c	29.33 ± 1.45^abc	0.09 ± 0.02^a	0.50 ± 0.06^a
		Traditional sun dying	113.33 ± 0.88^d	30.67 ± 1.86^bc	0.09 ± 0.02^a	0.73 ± 0.15^abc
	Hybrid	Solar biomass hybrid dryer	115.67 ± 0.67^defg	32.33 ± 0.67^c	0.09 ± 0.00^a	0.67 ± 0.20^abc
		Traditional sun dying	116.00 ± 1.00^defg	30.33 ± 1.45^bc	0.09 ± 0.00^a	0.57 ± 0.22^bc
6	Amazonian	Solar biomass hybrid dryer	115.00 ± 1.00^de	29.00 ± 1.53^abc	0.08 ± 0.00^a	0.50 ± 0.15^a
		Traditional sun dying	118.33 ± 0.88^g	30.67 ± 0.88^bc	0.09 ± 0.00^a	0.60 ± 0.15^abc
	Hybrid	Solar biomass hybrid dryer	115.33 ± 0.88^def	30.67 ± 1.20^bc	0.09 ± 0.00^a	0.50 ± 0.06^a
		Traditional sun dying	118.00 ± 0.58^fg	31.67 ± 0.33^c	0.09 ± 0.00^a	0.70 ± 0.12^abc
7	Amazonian	Solar biomass hybrid dryer	116.00 ± 1.00^defg	29.00 ± 1.53^abc	0.09 ± 0.00^a	0.60 ± 0.15^abc
		Traditional sun dying	117.33 ± 1.76^efg	30.67 ± 0.88^bc	0.09 ± 0.00^a	0.50 ± 0.06^a
	Hybrid	Solar biomass hybrid dryer	117.33 ± 1.76^efg	30.33 ± 0.88^bc	0.09 ± 0.00^a	0.63 ± 0.15^abc
		Traditional sun dying	115.33 ± 0.88^def	31.33 ± 1.20^c	0.09 ± 0.02^a	0.70 ± 0.12^abc

“±SE = standard error, mean with same letters in a column are not statistically different (5) from each other according to Fisher’s least significant difference (LSD) procedure. Values bolded and underlined refers to samples with the highest concentration; bolded values represents samples with the lowest concentration.”