Yield and fruit quality of papaya cultivars grown at two locations in Puerto Rico

Abstract

We evaluated five hybrids and an open-pollinated papaya cultivar grown on an Oxisol and Ultisol under intensive management at Isabela and Corozal, PR. At Isabela, hybrid Tainung 3 produced a significantly greater number of marketable fruits, whereas at Corozal the three Tainung hybrids did not show significant differences for this trait. There were no significant differences in weight of marketable fruit per hectare among hybrids Red Lady, Known You 1, Tainung 1 and Tainung 2 at either location. The average marketable fruit weight for these hybrids was 134,585 kg/ha at Isabela and 75,256 kg/ha at Corozal. Cultivar PR 6-65 produced significantly longer fruits at both locations, whereas hybrid Tainung 3 produced the shortest fruits. Significantly higher brix values were obtained from fruits of hybrid Tainung 3 at both locations, whereas iower values were obtained from those of PR 6-65.