Horticultural characterization and papaya ringspot virus reaction of papaya Pune Selections

Abstract

Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) is the most devastating viral disease in major papaya-growing areas of the world. To minimize the losses caused by the virus, use of a resistant/tolerant papaya variety remains the only workable solution in the present scenario, though there is no PRSV resistant/tolerant commercial papaya variety available in India. Towards that end, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Regional Station, Pune has developed four PRSV tolerant dioecious lines (namely, Pune Selection(PS)-1 PS-2, PS-3 and PS-5. Characterization of these lines vis-a-vis the popular commercial variety, Red Lady, was documented for four commercial life cycles (seasons) each one spreading over a year. On the basis of the average of all four seasons, PS-3 proved tallest (175 cm). The stem girth of all lines was lesser than that of Red Lady (39 cm). Fruiting height was the minimum in PS-5 (79 cm). The maximum length of fruiting column was observed in PS-3 (58 cm), and it was the lowest in Red Lady. All the PS lines proved superior in respect of fruit yield over Red Lady, registering the highest value in PS-2 (27 kg/plant). PRSV intensity in all Pune Selections was considerably lower than Red Lady. These lines can be used as a source of PRSV tolerance in resistant breeding programmes.