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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Kearneysville, West Virginia » Appalachian Fruit Research Laboratory » Innovative Fruit Production, Improvement, and Protection » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #220192
Title: Ecophysiology of papaya Carica papaya L.: a review

Author
item CAMPOSTRINI, ELIEMAR - UNIV OF NORTH FLUMINESE
item Glenn, David

Submitted to: Brazilian Journal of Plant Physiology
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/18/2007
Publication Date: 12/30/2007
Citation: Campostrini, E., Glenn, D.M. 2007. Ecophysiology of papaya Carica papaya L.: a review. Brazilian Journal of Plant Physiology. 19:83-94.

Interpretive Summary: Papaya is a principal horticultural crop of tropical and subtropical regions. The fruit is sold as fresh produce known for its high content of vitamins A and C and calcium or it is processed into drinks, jams, candies, dried and crystallized fruit, and papain. Knowledge of how papaya responds to environmental factors provides a scientific basis to develop management strategies to optimize fruit yield and quality. The current research knowledge related to the effect of environmental factors and their interaction with the photosynthetic process, whole plant physiology and physiological disorders in papaya was reviewed and summarized. This review demonstrates that environmental factors such as light, wind, soil chemical and physical characteristics, temperature, soil and air water, mineral nutrients, mycorrhizal fungi profoundly affect the productivity and physiology of papaya and this knowledge is necessary to develop economically sustainable production in the nursery or the field plantation. With improved, science-based management, growers will optimize photosynthetic carbon assimilation and increase papaya fruit productivity and quality.

Technical Abstract: Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is a principal horticultural crop of tropical and subtropical regions. Knowledge of how papaya responds to environmental factors provides a scientific basis to develop management strategies to optimize fruit yield and quality. A better understanding of genotypic responses to specific environmental factors will contribute to efficient agricultural zoning and papaya breeding programs. The objective of this review is to present current research knowledge related to the effect of environmental factors and their interaction with the photosynthetic process and whole plant physiology. This review demonstrates that environmental factors such as light, wind, soil chemical and physical characteristics, temperature, soil water, relative humidity, and biotic factors such as mycorrhizal fungi and genotype profoundly affect the productivity and physiology of papaya. An understanding of the environmental factors and their interaction with physiological processes is extremely important for economically sustainable production in the nursery or the field plantation. With improved, science-based management, growers will optimize photosynthetic carbon assimilation and increase papaya fruit productivity and quality.