000			05078nam a22001817a 4500
999			_c291383 _d291383
082			_a634.1 ANJ/RO PG
100			_aAnjana Mukesh
245			_aRole of biostimulants on growth and yield of papaya(Carica papaya L.)
260			_aVellanikkara _bDepartment of Fruit Science, College of Agriculture _c2024
300			_a88p.
502			_aMSc
520	3		_aPapaya (Carica papaya L.) is a most important fruit crop cultivated throughout the tropical and subtropical regions. The fruit is known for its sweet and musky flavour, making it a popular choice among the consumers. Papaya is rich in vitamins, particularly vitamins C, A and E. It contains enzymes called papain, which aids in digestion and is used for industrial purposes. The fruit is a good source of dietary fibre and antioxidants, contributing to overall health. The fruit's qualities and health benefits make papaya more appealing to customers. Drastic invasion of pests and diseases and scarcity of superior variety with higher yield are the major constrain for the economic production of papaya in Kerala. The uses of biostimulants on different horticultural and agronomic crops were gaining popularity due to their growth and development, quality enhancement and resilience to stress. In this background, the present study investigates on “Role of biostimulants on growth and yield of papaya (Carica papaya L.)” to evaluate its effect on the papaya variety “CO 7”. he biostimulants were applied every month and the observations were recorded at bimonthly intervals. Results indicated that significant variations were observed among treatments in various growth parameters. For instance, T2, involving chitosan and Sampoorna KAU Multimix, exhibited the minimum plant height at 120.47 cm and the plant collar girth was notably reduced (38.88 cm) after 10 months of growth in proportion to height. The application of biostimulants, especially chitosan and Sampoorna KAU Multimix (T2), significantly increased the number of leaves (23.44). In terms of flowering dynamics, significant differences were observed among treatments, with the earliest flowering in T2 at 108.77 days. Sex reversal were observed during the study encompassing male, female, bisexual and andromonoecious plants. The number of flowers per cluster reached its maximum in T1 (chitosan) at 4.97, while T2 demonstrated the highest fruit set percentage at 75.38%. The period from fruit set to maturity was notably shorter (131.61 days) and more number of days (6.72 days) for maturity to ripening reported in T2. Fruit parameters, including weight, length, girth, and volume, showed statistically significant differences among treatments, with T2 consistently recording the maximum values (1463.22 g, 24.32 cm, 40.95 cm, and 1283.33 cm3, respectively). Flesh thickness, fruit count and seeds per fruit also exhibited significant variations among treatments. Biochemical analyses further revealed distinct profiles. T2 demonstrated the highest total soluble solids at 14.11°Brix, while titratable acidity values were notably lower in T2, T1 and T4. T2 also showcased the highest total carotenoid content at 2.73 mg/100g, ascorbic acid content at 66.41 mg/100g and total sugar content at 11.81%. Shelf life was significantly longer in T2 at 8.61 days. Organoleptic evaluation scored the highest rank in T2 based on its overall appeal. Throughout the cropping period, the occurrence of diseases such as foot rot, Corynespore leaf spot, and viral infections in papaya crops was noted, showing no apparent relationship with the treatments applied in the current study. The application of chitosan has been associated with a reduction in viral diseases, as reported in earlier research works. However, to deepen our understanding and establish the potential of chitosan in mitigating viral diseases in papaya crops, further studies are imperative. In conclusion, the study highlights the superiority of the papaya variety CO 7, attributed to its impressive combination of high yield and superior fruit quality. Moreover, the application of biostimulants has proven to be instrumental in enhancing the overall growth, yield and quality of the papaya fruits. Notably, the efficient combination of Chitosan and Sampoorna KAU Multimix can give as a single spray, rather than separate spraying will reduce the labour cost. The application of combination of chitosan and Sampoorna KAU Multimix emerges as particularly promising, showcasing the potential to deliver higher economic benefits to farmers. The positive effects of Sampoorna KAU Multimix pave a way to standardize micro nutrient mixture for papaya as similar as practices established for banana. This finding current study underscores the importance of strategic biostimulant use in optimizing papaya production, offering valuable insight into agricultural practices aimed at improving crop outcomes, stress tolerance and economic returns.
650			_aFruit Science
650			_aPapaya
650			_aCarica papaya L.
700			_aAswini, A (Guide)
942			_2ddc _cTH