<![CDATA[Cherelle wilt is a physiological disorder that causes fruit loss in cacao during early fruit development. It is associated with assimilate imbalance and young fruit abscission and should be distinguished from fruit wilt caused by pest injury. This study evaluated foliar boric acid application to reduce physiological cherelle wilt and improve young fruit retention in two cacao clones. The research was conducted in April - August 2025 at the Sidodadi farmer group, Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The experiment used a factorial randomized complete block design with two factors: cacao clone (MCC01, MCC02) and boric acid concentration (0, 2, 4, and 8 g L⁻¹ H₃BO₃), with five replications. Variables included flower number, physiologically wilted young fruits, Helopeltis-associated wilted young fruits, and healthy young fruits. The results revealed that physiological cherelle wilt was distinguished from Helopeltis-associated wilt by visual symptoms. Foliar boric acid application significantly affected flower number, physiological cherelle wilt, and Helopeltis-associated wilt through clone × concentration interactions. MCC02 treated with 4 g L⁻¹ H₃BO₃ produced the highest flower number, whereas MCC02 treated with 2 g L⁻¹ H₃BO₃ produced the lowest number of physiologically wilted young fruits. Healthy young fruit formation was independently affected by clone and boric acid concentration, with MCC02 and 4–8 g L⁻¹ H₃BO₃ showing the best responses. Foliar boron management using boric acid can serve as a supporting preventive strategy in cacao plant protection by reducing physiological fruit loss and improving young fruit retention in a clone-specific manner, while Helopeltis-associated wilt still requires direct pest monitoring and management.]]>
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