Papaya Biology, Cultivation, Production and Uses

126 Papaya

11.1.2 Management

Among micronutrients, boron is the most important in papaya crop, affecting directly
the quality and production of fruits. Deficiency is caused by an excessive acidity,
water stress and lower contents of organic matter and boron in soil. The ameliora-
tive effect of boron application (as disodium octaborate tetrahydrate) through foliar

FIGURE 11.1 Bumpy fruits and deformed seeds of papaya.

TABLE 11.1

Screening of Germplasm against Bumpiness and Market Acceptability

of Affected Fruits

Germplasm Line

Incidence

(%)

Boron

Requirementa

Market Acceptability (Rs/kg)

Normal Bumpy

Pusa Dwarf 22.22 Low 20 15.88

Pusa Red selection 04.17 Low 20 15.88

Pusa Nanha 05.56 Low 20 15.88

Pusa Delecious 12.00 Low 20 15.88

Pusa Majesty 14.29 Low 20 15.88

Co-6 35.29 Medium 20 14.00

Pune Selection-1 41.67 Medium 20 14.00

Pune Selection-2 45.45 Medium 20 12.00

Pune Selection-3 64.52 High 20 08.25

Source: Adapted from Saran, P. L., R. Choudhary, I. S. Solanki and P. R. Kumar, 2014a, African

Journal of Biotechnology, 13(4): 574–80; Saran, P. L., R. Choudhary and I. S. Solanki,

2014b, An International Event on Horticulture for Inclusive Growth, Tamil Nadu, India:

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Coimbatore, p. 154; Saran, P. L., R. Choudhary and I.

S. Solanki, 2014c, Agriculture Today, 17(2): 40–41.

a Low ≤ 25%; Medium = 26%–50%; High = 51%–75%.