CHEMICAL CHANGES OF THE PAPAYA PLANT DURING DEVELOPMENT, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ITS PROTEOLYTIC ACTIVITY

Abstract

1. All parts of the papaya plant, with the exception of the seed, showed varying degrees of proteolytic activity. 2. Milk clotting activity appeared first in the leaf and later, in the stem and root. 3. The largest amount of proteolytic activity was concentrated in the green fruit rind and, in decreasing quantities, in the leaf, fruit pulp, stem, and root. 4. In the leaf and, to a lesser extent, in the stem and root, a definite variation took place in proteolytic activity during the thirteen initial months of growth. Maximum activity was reached between the fourth and ninth months. 5. Data have been collected regarding the moisture, hydrogen ion concentration, and nitrogen content of the various parts of the papaya plant during its initial thirteen months of growth.