Evaluation of Different Papaya Cultivars for Yield, Quality and Papaya Ring Spot Disease under Pune Conditions

Papaya (Carica papaya L) is cultivated primarily in tropical and sub tropical regions. For several decades the global production of papaya has been threatened by papaya ring spot disease (PRSV). In this context, to access the suitability of different papaya cultivars to Pune conditions nine papaya cultivars were evaluated for growth, yield, quality and PRSV incidence. Three trials of this experiment were conducted at NARP, Ganeshkhind, Pune during the year 2009–10, 2010–11 and 2011–12. The pooled data revealed significant differences for all characters except fruit breadth. The cv Red Lady showed early flowering (70.4 DAP) which was at par with cv CO 2 (73.5 DAP), Pusa Nanha (73.7 DAP) and Pusa Dwarf (73.6 DAP). The cv Pusa Nanha recorded significantly lowest height at first flower (53.3cm). The maximum numbers of fruit/plant were recorded in cv Pusa Nanha (33.4). The cv Pusa Giant recorded maximum fruit weight (2.1kg) which was at par with cv Red Lady (2.0kg). The cv Pusa Giant recorded significantly maximum fruit yield/plant (66.1kg) The cv Red Leady revealed significantly superior fruit length (25.6cm) which was due to its elongated fruit shape. Regarding quality parameters viz. pulp thickness and TSS were maximum (3.1cm and 11.71 ^oBrix, respectively) in cv Red Lady. However, cv Pusa Majesty recorded maximum pulp yield (82.2%). Regarding PRSV incidence at 12 months after planting, it was observed that, cv Pusa Giant recorded minimum infection (65.4%), which was at par with cv CO 6 (66.0%) and CO 2 (66.9%). From present investigation cv Pusa Giant was found as a good yielder and also tolerant to ring spot disease among these nine papaya cultivars.