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The present investigations entitled "Evaluation of Papaya varieties (Carica
papaya L.) for dessert purpose" were carried out to select elite types of papaya having
superior horticultural traits for cultivation in Kerala. The experiment using twelve improved
varieties of papaya was laid out in the Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture,
Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram during 1997 to 1999. Major findings of the study are sum-
marised below.
The present study revealed that plant height was lowest in papaya varieties Pusa
Dwarf and Pusa N anha. None of the varieties differed significantly with respect to girth.
Results of present studies showed that the mean number ofleaves produced per plant
was more in variety CO-4.
In the present studies, it was observed that the shortest period for flowering was in
papaya variety 9-1- D. The experiment also showed that papaya varieties Pusa N anha and
Pusa Dwarf started flowering at the shortest height from ground level. The shortest dura-
tion for harvest was recorded in Sunrise Solo. The longest duration for harvest was in
variety Thailand. The number of flowers per cluster was higher in varieties like Thailand
and lowest in CO-4. The results of the present studies showed that the percentage offruit
set was the highest in CO-3 and was the lowest in Pusa Dwarf
The results ofthe experiment indicate that fruit weight was the highest in Pusa Nanha
while the lowest weight offruits was in CO-3, Length offruits was the highest in Pusa

Nanha. The present studies indicate that among the varieties evaluated Pusa Nanha had
the highest fruit girth. Pusa Nanha had the highest fruit volume and the lowest was recorded
in CO-3.
The highest pulp percentage was observed in T ainung. The cavity index of the twelve
varieties of papaya did not differ significantly. The present studies revealed that papaya
variety Thailand had low seed content. Fruit yield was the highest in CO-2.
The highest TSS values were recorded in Sunrise Solo and lowest in Pusa Dwarf The
data revealed that acidity of the fruits was the lowest in CO-4 and fruits ofCO-2 showed
the lowest acidity. The highest ascorbic acid content was recorded in CO-3, while the
lowest was in the fruits ofCO-S. The highest carotenoid content was recorded in Sunrise
Solo, Washington and Coorg Honeydew.Reducing sugar was the highest in the fruits of
Coorg Honeydew and CO-S. The varieties Sunrise Solo had the highest non-reducing
sugars and the varieties Pusa Nanha had low non-reducing sugar content.
Variation in the shape offruits on visual observation in different was observed in the
present study. Ob ovoid to ellipsoid fruit shape was observed in CO-2, CO-3, CO-4, 9-
I-D, Thailand, Pusa Dwarf, Pusa Nanha and Washington. Spherical varieties of papaya
fruit shape was observed in CO-S, oval shape in Coorg Honeydew and pyriform in Sunrise
Solo.
The varieties CO-3, CO-4, Sunrise Solo, Tainung had greenish yellow peel colour
while CO-S, Coorg Honeydew, Thailand and Tainung had deep yellow cO,lour. The peel
colour of Pus a Dwarf and Pusa Nanha was yellow. Peel of CO-2 was light yellow at
edible ripe stage. Varieties Sunrise Solo, Thailand and Tainung had orange to pinkish red

pulp colour while rest of varieties had yellow colour. Among the varieties observed, CO-
3, CO-4, Sunrise Solo, Thailand and Tainung had firm flesh at edibile ripe stage, while
CO-5 and Pusa Dwarf had less firm flesh.
The variety Tainung obtained high score for appearance. The score for pulp colour
was high for CO-2. High score for flavour was secured by Sunrise Solo. The score for
taste was high in Tainung.Maximum score for texture of pulp was secured by Thailand.
The variety CO-2 had less papain odour. The results of the overall assessment of orga-
noleptic qualities indicated that among the varieties tested, Sunrise Solo was the most
acceptable followed by Tainung, Thailand and 9-1-D.
No major pests were recorded among the twelve varieties of papaya. Studies on the
diseases showed varietal variation in reaction. Diseases to leaves was low in Pusa Dwarf:
Pusa Nanha, Thailand and Tainung.Damage to the stem was low in Pusa Dwarf, CO-2
and Pusa Nanha. No damage was observed in fruits of Pus a Nanha, 9-1-D and Tainung.
The results of the present studies reveal that the fruit yield had highly significant
positive phenotypic correlation with character like fruit girth. Yield had positive and signifi-
cant genotypic correlation with height at sixth month, number ofleaves, fruit weight and
fruit girth.
The results of present studies revealed that the phenotypic, genotypic coefficients
were high for yield, number of fruits, volume of fruit, fruit weight, total sugars and percent-
age offruit set. Results of the present studies revealed that the heritability values were very
high for the characters total carotenoids, followed by fruit volume and percentage of fruit
set. Total sugars, pulp percentage, fruit weight, T. S. S, number offruits, cavity index, number
of flowers per cluster and yield had high heritability values. Genetic advance was maxi-
mum for fruit volume, followed by yield and number of fruits.
Based on the desirable Horticultural traits the highest scoring varieties, were Pusa
Nanha and CO-2. The variety Pusa Nanha had dwarf stature, medium to large fruit size
while CO-2 had high yield,moderate organoleptic qualities and both were less susceptible
to major pests and diseases. The varieties Pusa Dwarfand Coorg Honeydew were also
found to perform well with respect to growth, yield and quantity and hence can be
grown for dessert purpose in the homesteads.