Effect of barrier and inter crops on natural incidence of Papaya ringspot virus disease and fruit yield of papaya

Field trials were conducted during 1994–95 and 1995–96 crop seasons to study the effect of barrier and inter crops on natural incidence of Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) disease and yield of fruits. Perennial pigeonpea as barrier/border (2 rows) and intercropped with papaya significantly reduced PRSV disease incidence. Papaya with pigeonpea as barrier/border recorded minimum disease incidence with higher fruit number and yield per plant. However, maximum fruit weight, fruit length and fruit circumference were obtained in papaya intercropped with pigeonpea. These parameters showed positive and significant association with fruit yield per plant and together accounted for 97.45% (R² = 0.9745) variation in fruit yield. Highest direct effect on fruit yield per plant was obtained by fruit length.