Ripening behaviour of papaya at different temperature regimes

Papaya cv. Red Lady-786 is grown successfully in Punjab under net-house conditions. But, its fruit fails to ripe with the onset of winter. In view of this, physiological mature fruits were harvested at colour break stage and kept at 20, 25, 30°C and also at ambient conditions and analysed for quality parameters such as sensory quality, firmness, pulp colour, PLW, spoilage, TSS and acidity after 48, 72 and 96 h of ripening. Fruits kept at 20°C and ambient conditions failed to develop the desirable quality. Fruit ripening was observed at 25 and 30°C, but quality of fruits ripened at 25°C was superior.