Papaya Dalya Badawee

Taxonomic Position Domain : Eukaryota Kingdom : Viridiplantae Phylum : Spermatophyta Class : Dicotyledonae Order : Violales Family : Caricaceae Scientific name : Carica papaya

Origin: The papaya is believed to be native to southern Mexico and neighboring Central America. It is now present in every tropical and subtropical country. Soils: Papayas need a light, well-drained soil, Papayas do not tolerate salty water or soil, pH(5-7), lime application is necessary to increase growth and yield.

Southern Asia and East Indies: Kapaya, lapaya and tapaya Australia ,West Indies and New Zealand : paw paw Brazil: Mamao, or tree melon Spain: lechosa, papaya, fruta bomba. France: Papaya. Vietnam: Du du Venezuela: Lechoso (milky) Cuba: Fruita bomba.

Radiation: Papaya is a sun-loving plant. Temp. : Optimum temperature for growth is between 21°C to 33°C. Pruning: Papayas do not need to be pruned, but some growers pinch the seedlings or cut back established plants to encourage multiple trunks.

Tree Papaya is a short-lived , fast growing, soft wooded perennial . It has an extensive root system, erect growth and does not branch. It can grow up to a height of 8-10 m. The trunk is hollow green or deep-purple 30-40 cm or more thick at the base and roughened by leaf scars.

Papaya tree.. with hearts in the trunk

Leaves The leaves are spirally arranged in a terminal cluster, simple, on petioles 30-70 cm long. The leaves are rounded in outline, 60-90 cm in diameter, palmately 7-9 lobed. The margins of the lobes are very variable, and range from entire to undulate to deeply lobed. They are hollow, succulent, green or more or less dark purple. The life of a leaf is 4 to 6 months.

Flowers These plants are dioecious. The five- petalled flowers are fleshy, waxy and slightly fragrant. Short-stalked  flowers, clustered on panicles 5 or 6 feet long  (1.52 or 1.83 meters) .

FEMALE FLOWER Are relatively large and rounded at the base. They have a stigma but lack stamens. They generally must receive pollen in order to set fruit. Pollen can be carried by wind or by insects.

MALE FLOWER Are thin and tubular. They have perfect structure (i.e., they contain both male and female organs), but small. Male flowers are usually borne on a long flower stalk (peduncle).

HERMAPHRODITE FLOWER Are intermediate between female and male flowers in size and shape. They are less bulbous than female flowers, but not as thin as male flowers. They have perfect structure with functional stigma and stamens and usually are self-pollinating.

Fruit There are two types of papayas, Hawaiian and Mexican. Hawaiian fruit generally weight about 1 pound , the plants grow taller than 8 feet. Mexican papayas weight up to 10 pounds.

Papaya fruit

CULTIVARS Kamiya. Mexican Red. Mexican Yellow. Solo. Sunrise (Sunrise Solo (. Sunset (Sunset Solo). Vista Solo. Waimanalo (Waimanalo Solo, X-77 ).

Growth and Development Papaya trees may live up to 25 years . Vegetative growth It takes about (8-10) weeks after sowing before seedlings. Reproductive growth New flower buds are formed at leaf axils every two to three days. The time from  bud initiation to flower anthesis  ranges from 46 to 80 days. fruit maturing 4-5 months after flowering.

Tree spacing varies from 5 to 7 ft (1. 52 to 2 Tree spacing varies from 5 to 7 ft (1.52 to 2.13 m) between plants in rows 8 to 11 ft (2.44 to 3.35 m) apart.

Harvest Papayas are ready to harvest when most of the skin is yellow-green.  Mature fruit can be stored at 45° F for about 3 weeks.  In the West Indies, young leaves are cooked and eaten like spinach. In India, seeds are sometimes used as an adulterant in whole black pepper.

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