Importance
Papaya is often referred to as the "wonder fruit of the tropics." It is among the five primary tropical fruit crops worldwide and provides consistent yields year-round. Grown across India, it offers high productivity and profitability, second only to banana. Initially popular in home gardens, it has gained prominence as a commercial fruit and is also used as a filler crop in orchards.
Composition and Uses
- Papaya is flavorful and nutritious, making it ideal for fresh consumption and processing.
- Ripe fruits are used in jams, jellies, beverages, desserts, ice creams, and fruit salads.
- Unripe fruits are consumed as vegetables and even used as contraceptives.
- Seeds possess medicinal properties.
- Latex (papain) is a proteolytic enzyme used for digestion, treating ulcers, processing wool and silk, tanning leather, brewing, meat tenderizing, and medicinal drug preparation.
- Papain is also used to treat intestinal disorders and cancer and in cosmetic and adhesive industries.
- Carpaine alkaloid found in the plant and seeds is used as a cardiac stimulant and for dysentery treatment.
- High in Vitamin A (carotene), Vitamin C, and essential minerals like Ca, P, Fe, along with pectin used in the food industry.
- Processed products include tutti frutti, jams, fruit bars, and beverages.
Origin and Distribution
Native to tropical America, papaya is the second-largest produced fruit in India after Brazil. It is grown commercially in countries such as Australia, the USA, Taiwan, Peru, South Africa, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Introduced to India in 1611 by the Portuguese, major growing states include Karnataka, Bihar, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
Climate and Soil Requirements
- Requires tropical climate; sensitive to frost.
- Best suited to warm, humid climates with elevations up to 1200 m.
- Optimal temperatures: 22–36°C; ideal: 35°C day and 25°C night.
- Well-drained, fertile soils with pH 6-7 are preferred; avoid rocky and calcareous soils.
Species and Varieties
The genus Carica includes around 48 species; key ones include:
- Carica papaya – Main commercial species, polygamous.
- Carica monoica – Monoecious, suitable for mild climates.
- Carica candamarcensis – Suited to cooler climates.
- Others: C. pubescens, C. dodecaphylla, C. goudotiana, C. stipulata, C. quercifolia, etc.
Propagation
- Mostly propagated via seeds collected from healthy, disease-free plants.
- Rub seeds with ash to remove mucilage and store at 10°C for up to 45 days.
- Seed soaking in 100 ppm GA improves germination.
Sowing
- Sow in polybags (22×15 cm, 150 gauge) 6 weeks before transplanting.
- Disinfect media with 2% formalin.
- Use 4 seeds per bag for dioecious varieties; 2 for hermaphrodites.
- Germination in 2–3 weeks; transplant at 6–7 weeks.
Planting
- Plant in 1–1.5 cubic feet pits at 1.8×1.8 m or 2.4×2.4 m spacing.
- Incorporate 30–40 kg FYM and 25g Aldrin 5% dust into each pit.
- Plant during monsoon; 4 seedlings/pit for dioecious, 2 for hermaphrodites.
- Staking and irrigation needed post-planting.
Intercropping and Weed Management
- Short-duration vegetables can be grown for 6 months after planting.
- Pre-emergent weedicides: Fluchloralin or Butachlor at 2 kg/ha.
- Post-emergent: Glyphosate is effective.
Flowering and Fruit Set
Plants flower within 5–6 months. Remove surplus male plants, retaining one male for every 10 female plants to ensure pollination.
Thinning of Male Plants
Maintain one male plant per 10 female plants after flowering for effective pollination.
Manuring
Apply fertilizers in four splits during 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th months. Male trees used for pollination need not be fertilized. Refer to the below table for state-wise nutrient recommendations:
| STATE | N (g/plant/year) | P (g/plant/year) | K (g/plant/year) | FYM (Kg/plant/year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karnataka | 250 | 250 | 500 | 10-15 |
| Maharashtra | 100 | - | - | 40 |
| Tamil Nadu | 250 | 200 | 200 | 10 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 150 | 80 | 100 | - |
| West Bengal | 150 | 150 | 150 | 15 |
Harvesting
- Fruits are ready 10 months after planting; economic lifespan: 3–4 years.
- Harvest when fruits turn slightly yellow; handle carefully to avoid rot.
- Fruits ripen in 5–6 days at room temperature.
- Wash with water or 0.05% Benlate fungicide; pack with cushioning materials.
Major Diseases
- Collar Rot & Wilt: Caused by Pythium aphanidermatum and Phytophthora palmivora.
- Anthracnose: (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) – Causes water-soaked lesions on fruits and petiole decay.
- Powdery Mildew: (Oidium caricae) – Found on upper leaf surfaces; severe cases damage seedlings.
- Viral Diseases: Mosaic, Leaf Curl, Ring Spot (common in North India, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh).
- Nematodes: Root Knot (Meloidogyne species) affects roots and reduces yields.