Evaluation of 21 papaya (Carica papaya L.) accessions in southern Florida for fruit quality, aroma, plant height, and yield components

Abstract

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is a globally popular tropical fruit that can either be used in an unripe, “mature green” state in savory dishes, or consumed when ripe and sweet. In recent years, commercial papaya growers in southern Florida have favored large-fruited accessions often destined for the mature green market. Increased cultivation of papayas for the dessert fruit market, especially varieties with superior fruit quality may facilitate growth of the industry. Therefore, a study was designed to identify varieties that perform well in southern Florida, as well as accessions possessing useful characteristics for future breeding work. A total of 21 papaya accessions were assessed for yield components, plant height, and ripe fruit quality traits with an emphasis on aroma. In general, small fruited solo-type papayas were among the tallest accessions at first harvest reaching up to 244 cm tall for ‘Kapoho #1’ and with first fruit insertion heights up to 152 cm for ‘Kapoho #2’. N08–75, ‘Sunrise #2’, and ‘Sunset’ had higher average fruit numbers (43, 45, and 37 fruit per plant, respectively) than some of the larger fruited accessions like Saipan Red #1 (7 fruit per plant) throughout a six-month harvest period. The accessions with the highest fruit weights ranged from 1.48 to 2.13 kg for Brash Panama, HAES 7836, N07–24, Saipan Red #1, and Saipan Red #2. There were significant differences among the accessions for fruit quality traits including pH (4.55–5.13), titratable acidity (0.10–0.23%), and total soluble solids (8.9–14.5%). Quantification of 112 putatively identified and 12 unknown volatile compounds revealed terpenes as the most abundant components in 18 accessions, with linalool typically at the highest concentration. Gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O) revealed 26 volatiles that may contribute to aroma. Several of these compounds including butanoic acid, methyl butanoate, octanoic acid, and (E)-citral varied greatly in abundance among accessions. The variability observed for important fruit quality and agronomic traits suggests potential for improvement through plant breeding, as well as expanded cultivation of currently available varieties for the dessert fruit market in southern Florida.