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

Table 4

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

Fermentation period (days)	Variety	Drying method	Purple beans	Total slaty beans	Germinated and all other defective	PTY %
4	Amazonian	Solar biomass hybrid dryer	22.57 ± 0.70^a	1.67 ± 0.20^ab	0.43 ± 0.13^a	97.77 ± 0.23^ab
		Traditional sun dying	22.57 ± 0.47^a	1.77 ± 0.29^ab	0.67 ± 0.32^a	97.47 ± 0.39^ab
	Hybrid	Solar biomass hybrid dryer	23.00 ± 0.85^a	2.00 ± 0.17^b	0.73 ± 0.22^a	97.43 ± 0.30^a
		Traditional sun dying	22.57 ± 0.59^a	1.80 ± 0.10^ab	2.43 ± 1.79^b	97.57 ± 0.37^ab
5	Amazonian	Solar biomass hybrid dryer	22.23 ± 0.29^a	2.00 ± 0.17^b	0.47 ± 0.12^a	97.67 ± 0.20^ab
		Traditional sun dying	22.77 ± 0.29^a	2.00 ± 0.40^b	0.77 ± 0.12^a	97.37 ± 0.33^a
	Hybrid	Solar biomass hybrid dryer	21.90 ± 0.20^a	1.67 ± 0.20^ab	0.90 ± 0.31^a	97.43 ± 0.13^a
		Traditional sun dying	22.90 ± 0.67^a	1.47 ± 0.23^ab	0.53 ± 0.23^a	97.77 ± 0.29^ab
6	Amazonian	Solar biomass hybrid dryer	23.10 ± 0.20^a	1.43 ± 0.30^ab	0.30 ± 0.00^a	98.23 ± 0.29^b
		Traditional sun dying	22.23 ± 0.47^a	1.33 ± 0.20^a	0.30 ± 0.00^a	98.10 ± 0.20^ab
	Hybrid	Solar biomass hybrid dryer	22.57 ± 0.70^a	1.30 ± 0.17^a	0.30 ± 0.00^a	97.67 ± 0.20^ab
		Traditional sun dying	22.57 ± 0.47^a	1.57 ± 0.13^ab	0.30 ± 0.00^a	97.37 ± 0.33^a
7	Amazonian	Solar biomass hybrid dryer	23.03 ± 0.33^a	1.33 ± 0.20^a	0.90 ± 0.31^a	98.23 ± 0.29^b
		Traditional sun dying	22.23 ± 0.47^a	1.30 ± 0.17^a	0.53 ± 0.23^a	98.10 ± 0.20^ab
	Hybrid	Solar biomass hybrid dryer	22.57 ± 0.70^a	1.57 ± 0.13^ab	0.30 ± 0.00^a	98.10 ± 0.20^ab
		Traditional sun dying	22.57 ± 0.47^a	1.33 ± 0.20^a	0.90 ± 0.31^a	97.67 ± 0.20^ab

“±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.”