We sequenced and assembled the draft genome of #Theobroma cacao#, an economically important tropical-fruit tree crop that is the source of chocolate. This assembly corresponds to 76% of the estimated genome size and contains almost all previously described genes, with 82% of these genes anchored on the 10 #T. cacao# chromosomes. Analysis of this sequence information highlighted specific expansion of some gene families during evolution, for example, flavonoid-related genes. It also provides a major source of candidate genes for #T. cacao# improvement. Based on the inferred paleohistory of the #T. cacao# genome, we propose an evolutionary scenario whereby the ten #T. cacao# chromosomes were shaped from an ancestor through eleven chromosome fusions. (Résumé d'auteur)