FIELD PERFORMANCE OF 100% HERMAPHRODITE MICROPROPAGATED PAPAYA PLANTS

The behavior of micropropagated hermaphrodite papaya plants in the field was assayed, and compared to papaya plants obtained by seeds.
Normally, after growers have sown three seeds by hole, they obtained either female and hermaphrodite plants but the last one is the most accepted in the market since the shape and size are adequate to transport and storage.
We have obtained and micropropagated 100% hermaphrodite papaya plants to guarantee and reduce production costs in the early stage of culture of papaya in the field.
The performance of both micropropagated and obtained by seed papaya plants were similar in tems of photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence (PSII), growth rate, number of leaves and stem diameter.
Flowers and fruits were found quite similar since the size of plants obtained by seed was found statically different from the micropropagated plants.
We conclude than the micropropagated hermaphrodite papaya plants can be cultivated in the field like those obtained by seeds with agronomic advantages to the market.

II International Symposium on Acclimatization and Establishment of Micropropagated Plants

C. Talavera May, F. Espadas y Gil, F. Contreras M., J.M. Santamaría

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2007.748.29