how to cultivate papaya

1. Production Technology of Papaya

2. Botanical name: Carica papaya Edible parts: Mesocarp
Family: Caricaceae Chromosome
number (2n):
18
Origin:Tropical America (South
Mexico) and Costa Rica
Botanically
type of fruit:
Berry
Portuguese introduced papaya in India from Malacca during 1611
It is cultivated throughout the world, in tropical & sub-tropical climate
It is do not tolerate freezing temperature and frost
Method of propagation: By Seeds
Ripening behavior: Climacteric (Sudden upsurge in rate of
respiration at ripening)

3. Year Production (MT) Area (MH)
2018-19 5.831 MT 0. 139 mh
2017-2018 5.989 MT 0. 138 MH
2016-2017 5.940 MT 0. 134 MT
Papaya in India
Sl. No. State Production (MT) Share (%)
1 Andhra Pradesh 1.68782 28.19
2 Gujarat 1.25651 20.99
3 Karnataka 0.59369 9.92
4 Madhya Pradesh 0.42155 7.04
5 Maharashtra 0.40800 6.82
6 Chattisgarh 0.38142 6.37
7 West Bengal 0.36595 6.11
8 Assam 0.14740 2.46
9 Tamil Nadu 0.14158 2.36
10 Jharkhand 0.11641 1.94
Top ten states of India in papaya production

4. Papaya is a tropical fruit
It is dicots and dioecious in nature but hermaphrodite forms also occur
It fruit is more importance because of its high nutritive & medicinal value
It is most suitable fruit crop for growing in kitchen gardens
It is planted as a filler plant in fruit orchards with long juvenile period
It is bearing within a year of planting and it has short life
In Punjab it is being grown as filler plant in mango and litchi orchards
It has become popular fruit crop due to its fast growth, high yield, long
fruiting period, high nutrient value and highly profitable crop
It plant has male, female and hermaphodite (bisexual flower) and
some other complex forms
Male plants do not bear any fruit
Normally the fruit produced from female flower, shape is shorter
The fruit produced from hermaphrodite flower, shape is longer
Papaya ripe fruit is eaten as fresh while unripe used as vegetable
It is a rich source of vitamin A (2020 IU per 100 g of edible portion)
and vitamin C (40 mg/l00 g of edible portion)
Papaya contains vitamin by, 100 gm of pulp riboflavin 250 mg 100 gm
of pulp, 0.6% proteins and 9% of carbohydrates

5. Papaya fruit having sufficient amount of calcium
The yellow colour of pulp is due to caricaxanthin
Papaya contains papain which is protein digesting enzyme
Ripe fruits used for making jam, jelly and ice-cream
Papain is prepared by collecting dried latex from the unripe/ immature
papaya fruits
Papain is used for meat tenderizing, chewing gum, cosmetics, and
degumming natural silk and to give shrink resistance to wool
The leading producer of papaya is Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, Indonesia,
China, Peru, Thailand and Philippines
In India papaya is commercially cultivated in AP, Karnataka, Gujarat,
Orissa, W.B., Assam, Kerala, M.P. and Maharashtra
Delhi and Mumbai are two principal markets in India
Other major domestic markets are Jaipur, Bangalore, Chennai,
Kolkata and Hyderabad
Papaya is a polygamous plant

6. Soil and climate
Papaya being a tropical fruit, it grows well in mild sub-tropical
regions of the country upto 1,000 m above MSL
It requires warm & humid climate without frost because it
sensitive to frost
Optimum temperature is 25 - 30° C and minimum 16° C
Low temperature affects the fruit and plant growth
Temperature 0°C damage the foliage and fruit
The plants are protected by covering with gunny bags under
North Indian conditions during the winter months
Night temperature below 120-140 C for several hours in winter
season affects growth and production
In high rainfall, proper drainage facilities created otherwise
roots are rot and death the plants
Staking or windbreak can decrease the damage to plants under
strong wind
Dry climate at ripening time is good for the fruit quality

7. A well drained, deep rich in organic matter, upland sandy loam
to loamy soil with sufficient organic matter is ideal for it cultivation
Before, planting of papaya plants suitable wind break should be
planted around the orchard boundary
The suitable pH value of the soil is 6 to 6.5
It is very sensitive to frost, strong winds and water stagnation
Water stagnation in papaya field for few days can be harmful
Papaya is very sensitive to waterlogging conditions

8. Arka Prabhath
From IIHR, Bangalore
It is cross from (Surya x Tainung-1) x Local Dwarf
Per plant average fruit yield 90-100 kg
The keeping quality of fruit is good
The pulp is firm (5.9 kg/cm2) and colour is deep pink
The average fruit weight is 900-1200 g and TSS 13-14°Brix
It is gynodioecious in nature and due to it nature, seed production is easy only
the bagging of bisexual flowers ensures true to type plants
Plants semi-vigorous and bearing starts at height of 60-70 cm
Varieties of Papaya
CO-6
Selection from Giant
Dioecious, large size fruits
For table and papain
production purpose
Fruit flesh yellow colour
CO-7
By (Pusa Delicious x CO 3) x
Coorg Honey Dew
Gynodioecious nature
Excellent fruit for dessert purpose
Fruit flesh attractive pink
colour

9. Surya
By IIHR, Bangalore
Gynodioecious in nature
The plants are shorter compared to Solo
It is offspring of Sunrise Solo x Pink Flesh Sweet
The seeds can be produced by bagging of hermaphrodite flowers or by
crossing the female flowers with hermaphrodite flowers
Skin is smooth, becomes uniformly yellow in colour on ripening
Pulp thickness is 3 to 3.5 cm, deep red in colour with TSS 13.5 – 15°Brix
Average fruit weight is 600 – 800 g with a small fruit cavity Keeping quality of
fruits is good
Per plant average yield is 55 – 65 kg
Coorg Honey Dew
 'Madhubindu’
Suitable for table as well as processing purpose
Greenish-yellow oblong-shaped fruits with orange thick flesh
and good flavour
Due to its excellent fruit quality grower fetches high market value

10. Pusa Dwarf
Dioecious in nature
Plants dwarf
Fruit medium sized with oval
shape (1-2 kg)
The plant starts bearing at a
height of 25 to 30 cm from the
ground level
Comparatively drought hardy
Suitable for HDP
Pusa Majesty
Gynodioecious nature
Tolerant to viral diseases and root knot
nematodes
Suitable for papain production
Fruits medium sized and round shape with
average weight 1- 1.5 kg
Keeping quality of fruit is better
Fruiting starts at 146 DAT
Tolerant to root knot nematode
Pusa Giant
Dioecious in nature
Plants vigorous, sturdy
and tolerant to strong wind
Average fruit weight 2.5 -
3 kg
Suitable for canning
Pusa Delicious
Gynodioecious in nature
 Plant medium tall and starts fruiting after 8
months after planting
TSS of fruit 10°-13° Brix and excellent flavour
Fruit medium sized (1-2 kg) with deep orange
flesh
Table purpose variety

11. CO-1
 Selection from Ranchi by TNAU
Plant dwarf and first fruiting at a
height of 60-75 cm from ground level
Fruit medium sized, spherical,
smooth greenish yellow skin, flesh
orange yellow, soft and firm
Fruit moderately juicy with good
keeping quality
CO-2
It is a selection
Fruits medium sized, greenish yellow,
ridged at apex, flesh red, soft to firm
Fruit moderately juicy with good
keeping quality
Suitable for papain extraction
Per fruit dried papain yield 4-6 g or
250-300 kg /ha
CO-3
By CO- 2 x Sun Rise Solo
Fruit larger size with TSS 13.8°
Brix
Average fruit weight 1 to 1.5 kg
Fruits have a good keeping quality
Per plant yields 100-120 fruits
from two years
CO- 5
Selection from Washington
Suitable for high papain
production
Per fruit dry papain production
is 14-15 g and 75-80 fruits/tree in
two years with an average dry
papain yield of 1,500-1,600 kg/ha

12. Washington
Suitable for table purpose
Fruits round to ovate, medium
large size with few seeds
On ripening, skin attains a bright
yellow colour
The average fruit weight is 1.5-2 kg
Male & female plants are separate
Solo:Suitable for table purpose
Fruits small with deep pink pulp
and sweet taste
Excellent for kitchen garden
Ranchi
It is popular in south India
Fruits oblong with dark yellow
pulp and sweet taste
Taiwan-785
Cultivated for table as well as
processing purpose
Plant dwarf and first fruit
producing at a height of 60-75 cm
from the ground level
Fruits oblong with thick orange
red sweet pulp
Per year/plant yields 100-125 fruits
It has a good keeping quality and
disease tolerant
Taiwan-786 (Red Lady Dwarf )
Gynodioecious in nature
Suitable for table as well as
processing purpose
Fruits oblong with a tasty sweet
pulp having few seeds
The plant starts bearing fruits at
100 cm above the ground level
Average fruit weigh 1-3 kg
Keeping quality of fruit has
excellent

13. Punjab Sweet
Plants dioecious (male and female on separate plants)
Plant height up to 1.90 m
Fruit bearing at 1.0 m height of from ground
Fruit large size, oblong shape with pointed tip, deep yellow
colour flesh, TSS of pulp 9.0 to 10.5 %
The average fruit yield per plant 50 kg
Honey Dew
Suitable for North Indian conditions
Plants dioecious (male and female on separate plants)
Fruits large size, elongated in shape with few or no seed
Flesh sweet with pleasant flavor and TSS 8.0%
It is also known as Madhu Bindu
Pusa Nanha
It is mutant and suitable cultivar for close plantation
Plants dioecious, dwarf and grow up to 1.06 m height
Average fruit yield/ plant 35 kg

14. Pusa Nanha Pusa Nanha CHINMAY-1
CO-2 Red Lady RCTP-1

15. ARKA PRABHAT SURYA COORG HONEYDEW
A majority of Indian farmers grow the Red Lady Dwarf variety, which is
also known as the 'Taiwan 786' papaya, due to its exceptional quality and
long shelf life. The plant takes only eight months to fruit, with the
total yield reaching 60 kg per plant.

17. State Varieties grown
Andhra
Pradesh
Honey Dew, Coorg Honey Dew, Washington, Solo, Co-1,
Co-2, Co-3, Sunrise Solo, Taiwan
Jharkhand Ranchi Selection, Honey Dew, P Delicious, P Nanha
KN& Kerala Coorg Honey Dew, Coorg Green, Pusa Delicious & Pusa Nanha
W. Bengal Ranchi selection, Honey Dew, Washington, Coorg Green
Orissa P Delicious, P Nanha, Ranchi Sel., H Dew, Washington,
Coorg Green
Important papaya varieties cultivated in different states of India

18. Propagation
Papaya commercially propagated by seeds but occasionally by tissue
culture
Seeds extracted from the ripe fruits
Extracted seeds rubbed with sand to remove white mucilaginous layer;
washed and air dried
The seeds lose their viability in about 45 days after extraction
One gram contains about 50-80 seeds, mostly 65 -75 seeds
150 to 250 g seeds required for one hectare area
The seedlings can be raised in 3 m x 1 m x 10 cm (L x W x H) size
nursery beds as well as in pots or polythene bags
Seeds treated with Bavistin (0.2 %) or Captain (3g /kg seeds)
Sowing the seeds at a spacing of 10 cm and covered with treated fine
compost or leaf mould
After seeds sowing nursery beds covered with polythene sheets or dry
paddy straw as mulch to protect the soil moisture
The light irrigation is provided during morning hours
About 15-20 cm tall and 1 ½ to 2 months old seedling are ready for
planting

19. Seeds can be sown any time from March to September
But, due to severe winter in North India, seeds should be sown during
July to September
It seedling attain 20-30 cm in height, they easily protected from frost
and freeze of winter
Nursery in polythene bags
Prepare a mixture of well rotten FYM plus soil and sand in equal
proportions and 25 x 10 cm size polythene bags are filled
On lower part of bag make 8 to 10 small holes for drainage of excess
water
2 to 3 treated (with Captain 3g/kg) seeds/polythene bag sown at 2-3 cm
deep
After germination, seedlings drench with Captain solution (2 g /litre of
water) control the damping off disease
Remove the extra seedling from the bag
One healthy seedling kept in each bag
Seedlings ready for transplanting in 40-50 days after seeds sowing
Before transplanting polythene bags should be removed

20. Normal, white and vivipary seeds in papaya cultivar-Pusa Dwarf

21. Deformed and normal seeds in papaya cultivar- Pune
Selection-3

22. Planting, spacing and season
For planting, 45 x 45 x 45 OR 50 x 50 x 50 cm size pits dug, one
month before (in summer) transplanting
The pits fill with 20 kg rotten FYM, top soil, 1 kg each of neem cake
and bone meal; and for control of white ants add 30g lindane 5% dust
2 - 3 seedlings per pit are transplant at 15 cm apart in case of
varieties, which produces only male or female flowers on individual
plant (CO.2, CO.6, Pusa Dwarf and Washington)
After establishing one plant/pit is kept when they have started
flowering
Keep 10 % male plant populations scattered throughout the orchard
But in case of the gynodioecious type (CO.3, Pusa Majestic and Pusa
Delicious) single plant can be planted per pit
Seedlings should be transplanted in the evening time
After transplanting, field lightly irrigated
The plant spacing fluctuate by varieties and other factors
Tall varieties required more spacing while medium and dwarf
required closer spacing

23. Square or rectangular system of planting is usually adopted in papaya
Planting is done as filler they planted at a spacing of 1.5 x 1.5 m (4444
plants/ha) but Normally it planted at 1.8 x 1.8 m (3086 plants/ha)
For HDP, spacing at 1.5 x 1.5 m which enhances the returns of farmer
A closer spacing of 1.2 x 1.2 m for cv. Pusa Nanha is adopted for HDP
(6,944 plants/ha)
The ideal season of transplanting is the beginning of monsoon
However, transplanting may be continued from June to November
Papaya planted during spring (February - March), monsoon (June -
July) and autumn (October - November)

24. Manures, fertilizers and micro nutrients
Due to its fast growing plant, short juvenile period, producing flowers
and fruits year round; it required more/ heavy doses essential nutrition
at regular intervals
Papaya prefers soils with having/rich organic matter
Apart from the basal dose of manures (15-25 kg/plant) applied in the
pits by mixing with 200:200-250:400 g of N: P2O5: MOP/ plant
Inorganic fertilizers should be provided in five split doses at 2nd, 4th, 6th,
8th and 10th month after planting
Application of 200 g N is optimum for fruit yield but for papain yield
increases with increase in N upto 300 g
Nitrogen and Potash in the form of ammonium sulphate and sulphate
of potash respectively improves the keeping quality and colour of fruits
Fertilizers should be applied in a 10cm deep circular trench 15-20 cm
away from the trunk and covered with soils
Light irrigation should follow after fertilization
Micro nutrients like ZnSO4 (0.5%) are sprayed to increase growth and
fruit yield

25. Variety Fertilizer Dose (g/
plant/ year)
No. of Split Doses
Recommended by
N P K
Coorg Honey Dew 250 250 500 6, bimonthly IIHR, Bangalore
Solo 350 250 200 6, bimonthly IIHR, Bangalore
CO.1 200 200 200 4 TNAU, Coimbatore
Ranchi 200 300 600 3 West Bengal
Intercropping
Papaya itself planted as filler in mango, litchi & guava orchards
because; it stays in the field for 2-3 years only
In 1st year of planting, the shallow rooted vegetables like mung,
horse gram, onion, garlic, turnip, cauliflower and leafy vegetables are
suitable for growing as intercrops
The leguminous crops are beneficial as intercropping
No intercrops taken after onset of flowering stage or the plants start
fruiting
Intercrop should not compete for nutrition with papaya plants

26. Irrigation
Irrigation depends on type of soil & weather conditions
It is very sensitive to water logged, so avoid flooding periodically
Regular irrigation is an important aspect in papaya cultivation, which
helps in growth, fruit development and high yield
Moisture stress inhibits the growth & promotes male floral characters
For safe and control irrigation, fields divide into small segments
Protective irrigation is provided in 1st year of planting and apply light
irrigation at 6-7 and 15 to 20 days interval in summer and winter,
respectively depending on soil condition and during rain irrigation avoid
Water should not stay near the stem of plants to prevent collor rot
During 2nd year, irrigation provided at 7-10 days interval in winter and
at an interval of 4-5 days in summer
Basin/ring system of irrigation has been found very effective because
this system helps in preventing collar rot as there is no direct contact
between the water and the stem portion
In areas having low rainfall, sprinkler or drip system can be adopted
Drip irrigation helps to save 50-60% water
 Irrigation through the drip @6-8 litre /day/plant gives better yields

27. Intercultural Operations, weeding and Thinning
The start flowering after 6- 7 months of transplanting
At flowering, excess plants are to be removed keeping only one plant in
each pit and maintaining a female: male plant ratio of 10: 1
For effective pollination, keep the male plants well spread in the field
Being a shallow rooted plant, weeds compete with papaya plants for
nutrition, so regular weeding is essential for vigorous plant growth
Weeding should be done regularly around the plants to weeds control
Two hoeing (1st in February-March and 2nd in July-August) sufficient to
check the weeds growth
Use of herbicides like Diuron @2.0-2.5 kg a.i/ha or Glyphosate @1-2 kg
a.i./ha were effective in controlling the weeds in papaya orchards
Care should be taken while spraying so as to avoid spilling of the
herbicides on papaya leaves
Earthing up is done before onset of monsoon to avoid water logging
and it also help the plants to stand erect
Removal of male plants
Where dioecious varieties are planted, about 10% male plants kept in
the orchards for good pollination

28. Plant protected from frost
In North India, frost usually occurs in the months of Dec. and Jan. but
in sometime late frost may occur in the month of February
Due to broad leaves and succulent stem, it is very sensitive to the frost
To save the young papaya plants from winter
If, the plantation should be done during October or November so that
plants could be provided protection easily
Plants covered with Sarkanda (a kind of stick) thatches or by pegging
three support around the plants and covering with white polythene
Care should be taken that bags do not touch the foliage
Few holes may be provided in upper portion of bags for aeration
In 2nd year thick gunny bags wrapped around the fruits and apex
during winter season

29. Harvesting and fruit handling
Fruits harvested at full size, light green in colour with tinge of yellow at
apical end
On ripening, fruits of certain varieties turn yellow while some of them
remain green
When latex ceases to be milky and become watery, the fruits suitable
for harvesting
Papaya fruits will be ready for harvest by about 7-10 MAP depending
on cultivar and prevailing temperature during the course of fruit
development
The ripe fruit is harvested individually by hand picking taking care to
avoid all possible injuries
The mature fruit easily gets detached from stem either by turning it
upwards or by twisting
The fruit should be harvested early in the morning and kept in shade
for grading
The economic life of papaya plant is 3 to 4 years
In case of fruits crowding, fruit thinning should be done to get well
sized fruits

30. The fruit yield depend on the so many factors like; variety, soil,
climate, spacing and cultural management of the orchard
Generally, fruit yield 75-100 tonnes /ha is obtained in a season from
good papaya orchard
A tree with good management produces 25 to 40 fruits weighing 40 to
60 kg in the first 15 to 18 months
After harvesting, fruit should be placed in single layer and covered
with straw till ripening
For distant markets it should be packed in baskets by placing straw below
& newspaper along with gunny bag above to avoid bruising of fruits
Papaya is a climacteric fruit hence, it can be artificially ripened by
dipping fruits in 500 ppm ethephon
At ripening fruits attain golden yellow colour of skin
Fruits are highly perishable in nature
Fruit can be stored for a period of 1-3 weeks at a temperature of 10-
130 C and 85-90% relative humidity
Fruits graded on the basis of weight, size and colour
Bamboo baskets with banana leaves as lining material which used for
carrying the produce from farm to local market

31. Papaya Spider Mite
Spider mite affects the leaf and fruit by way of causing scarring which
reduces the market value of fruit
In severe cases the new leaves become discoloured which is confused
with virus
Control
Crop spraying with Phosphamidon (0.04%) or Methyl Parathion
(0.05%) effectively reduces the spider mite population
Used the sulphur dust or spraying 0.1% Kelthane

32. Fruit Fly
The pest causes damage to the plant and the fruit
Fruit flies can infect papaya when fruits are allowed to ripen on the tree
beyond the recommended harvest stage
Control
Application of Dimethoate (0.1%) effectively controls the fruit fly

34. Nematodes
Root knot nematode & Reniform nematode cause severe damage to papaya
The infected roots form galls causing stunting, tree fall down, yellowing
and drying of leaves
It causes about 15% loss of the world production
Control
Carbofuran (2 kg/ha) or Neem cake (1 kg/plant) effectively checks the
nematode population
Pusa Majesty is resistant to nematode and can be grown in the regions
having nematode problem

35. Powdery Mildew (Odium indicum, Odium caricae)
The development of powdery mildew in papaya is promoted by high
humidity (80-85%) and a temperature range of 24-26°C
The disease appears as on the foliage and fruits
Infection is first appeared on the leaves as small slightly darkened
areas, which later become white powdery spots and they enlarge and
cover the entire leaf area
Severely infected leaves may become chlorotic & distorted before
falling
Affected fruits are small in size and malformed
Control
As soon as the disease symptoms are observed dusting Sulphur (30 g/10
litres of water) or spraying Calixin 75 EC (5 ml/10 litres of water) at 15
days interval helps to control the disease

37. Leaf Blight (Corynespora cassiicola)
The disease causes severe damage to leaves
The disease first appears as small, discoloured lesions, which are
irregularly scattered on the leaves
These spots become irregular in shape, then increase in size, and appear
brown to grey in colour
A light yellow zone surrounds the spots
Several lesions coalesce to cover large areas of the leaf and in severe
infections the whole leaf dies
A considerable reduction in the yield is observed
Control
Disease can be controlled by spraying of Dithane M-45 (0.2%) starting
form the appearance of the disease symptoms

39. Damping Off (Rhizoctonia solani)
This is a disease of young seedlings
Lesions are seen on the stem at or just above soil level
Stem becomes watery and shrinks, followed by death of the plant
Control
Well-drained soil should be used for planting and the crop should not
be excessively irrigated
Before sowing the seeds should be treated with fungal culture of
Trichoderma viride (3-4 g/kg of seed) or Captan (3 g/kg of seed) to protect
the newly emerging seedlings

40. Foot Rot of Papaya (Pythium aphanidermatum)
It is a severe disease of papaya and characterized by the appearance of
water-soaked patches on the stem near the ground level
The patches enlarge rapidly and girdle the stem, causing rotting of the
tissues, which then turn dark brown or black
Such affected plants withstand strong wind and topple over and die
If disease attack is mild, only one side of stem rots & plants remain stunted
Fruit if formed are shriveled and malformed and gradually plant dies
Control
Trichoderma viride (15 g/plant) mixed with well-decomposed FYM
should be applied around the root zone of plants at the time of planting
The crop should be irrigated by adopting the ring method of irrigation
so that the water does not come in direct contact with the stem
In new plantings, preventing the water logging in field for control the disease
The soil should be drenched with 2-3 liter of copper oxychloride (3 g/
liter of water) at 15 days interval from the time of planting
During fruit formation, the plant should be sprayed with 2-3 liter of
copper oxychloride (3 g per liter of water) at 15 days interval
Alternately, Mancozeb (2.5 g/ liter of water) may also be applied

42. Anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides)
The disease prominently appears on green immature fruits
Brown to black depressed spots on the fruits are major symptoms
The initial symptoms are water-soaked, sunken spots on the fruit
Centers of spots, later -turn black- pink when fungus produces spores
The spots becomes soft and watery, which spreads to the entire fruit
Small, irregular shaped water soaked spots on leaves may also be seen
and eventually turn brown
On the fruits, symptoms appear only upon ripening and may not be
apparent at the time of harvest
Brown sunken spots develop on the fruit surface, which later on
enlarge to form water soaked lesions
Control
The affected fruits should be remove and destroyed
The fruits should be harvested as soon as they mature
Spaying with copper oxychloride (3 g/litre of water) or carbendazim (1
g/litre of water) or thiophanate methyl (1 g/litre of water) at 15 days
interval effectively controls the disease
Fruits for exports should be subjected to hot water treatment or a
fungicidal wax treatment

44. Papaya Mosaic
The mosaic disease attacks on all age groups of the plants, but it is most
serious on young stage of plants
The aphids are responsible for transmitting of the disease
The symptoms appear on young top leaves of the plants
In this disease; leaves size and petiole length of leaf are reduced, blister like
patches of dark green tissue and alternating yellowish green lamina show on
leaves, top leaves assume an upright position and reduction in plant growth
The fruits borne on disease plants develop water soaked lesions with a
central solid spot and such fruits are elongated and reduced in size
Control
Create the facility for field sanitation and removed the affected plant
which reduce the spread of the disease
The losses can be minimized by controlling of aphid population with
application of carbofuran (1 kg a.i./ha) at the time of sowing seeds
followed by 2-3 foliar sprays of phosphamidon (0.05%) at an interval of
10 days starting from 15-20 DAS which effectively checks the population
of aphids

46. Leaf curl of papaya
The disease is transmitted by white fly (Bemisia tabaci as vector)
The disease is characterize by severe curling, crinkling and
deformation of the leaves and mostly young leaves are affected
Apart from curling, the leaves also exhibit vein clearing and
thickening of the veins and sometimes petioles are twisted
In severe cases complete defoliation of the affected plant is observed
The affected plants show a stunted growth with reduce fruit yield
Control
Removal and destruction of the affected plants is the only control
measure to reduce the spread of the disease
Checking the white flies population can reduce the infection severity
Soil application of carbofuran (1 kg a.i./ha) at the time of sowing and
4-5 foliar sprays of dimethoate (0.05%) or metasystox (0.02%) or
nuvacron (0.05% ) at an interval of 10 days effectively controls the
whitefly populations

48. Papaya ring spot virus
The virus is spread from plant to plant by aphids
The previous symptoms are yellowing & vein clearing of the young leaves
A very conspicuous yellow mottling of the leaves and sometimes severe
blistering and leaf distortion
Dark green streaks and rings appear in the leafstalks and stems
Concentric rings & spots appear on the fruit as darker green fruit color
Symptoms persist on the ripe fruit as darker orange brown rings
Vigour of trees and fruit setting is usually reduced depending on the age
of the plant when infected
Fruit quality, particularly flavour is adversely affected
Control
Early detection of infected plants and prompt removal can check the
spread of the disease
Aphids can be controlled by application of carbofuran (1 kg a.i./ha) in
the nursery bed at the time of seeds sowing followed by 2-3 foliar sprays
of phosphamidon (0.05%) at an interval of 10 days starting from 15-20
DAS

50. Papain Extraction
The immature green papaya fruit (2.6 to 3 months of fruit set) contains
a milky latex containing papain which possesses both milk clotting and
protein digestive properties
Papain has typical protein digestive properties and is classed as
protease, proteinage or proteolytic enzyme
It has several uses in the industry viz., food processing, tanning and
textile industry
In India; papaya varieties CO-2 and CO-6 are recommended for papain
production
Considering the export potential of papain, large areas are being
brought under papaya cultivation for production of papain
For papain tapping, partially mature fruits about 75-95 days old are
selected
Papain extraction starts in the rainy season and continues up to March
and cool and wet periods produce more papain
Incision is made with bamboo splinters or ivory knives about 0.3 cm
deep on four sides of fruit from stalk end to tip early in the morning
before 9.00 a.m.

51. Latex is collected in glass vessels or aluminium trays
Similar incision is repeated (3 to 4 time) on untapped surface of the
same fruit three times at 3-4 days interval
Potassium Metabisulphite @ 0.05% is added to the liquid latex to
extend the storage life of the papain
The liquid latex dried in sun/ spray dried at a temperature of 50-55°C
Powder is prepared from dry flakes and sieved in a 10 mesh sieve
The papain in powdered form is stored in polythene bags or in airtight
glass containers and stored for six months at 90 C
Approximately 25g of latex is obtained per fruit
5 kg of liquids latex on drying, yield 1kg of papain
The annual yield of papain to 250 to 375 kg per year
Immature small and medium fruits yield higher quality of latex than
the large and mature fruits
About one-sixth of the dried powder is papain
The yield of papain is as follows-
Year Approximate yield
(kg/ha)
Year Approximate yield
(kg/ha)
Year Approximate yield
(kg/ha)
1st 250 2nd 150-200 3rd 75-100