Jayachandran Nair, C SLakshmi, UnnithanKAU2019-03-222019-03-222000http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810099146The present investigations entitled "Evaluation of Papaya varieties (Carica papaya L.) for dessert purpose" were carried out to select elite types of papaya having superior horticultural traits for cultivation in Kerala. The experiment using twelve improved varieties of papaya was laid out in the Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram during 1997 to 1999. Major findings of the study are sum- marised below. The present study revealed that plant height was lowest in papaya varieties Pusa Dwarf and Pusa N anha. None of the varieties differed significantly with respect to girth. Results of present studies showed that the mean number ofleaves produced per plant was more in variety CO-4. In the present studies, it was observed that the shortest period for flowering was in papaya variety 9-1- D. The experiment also showed that papaya varieties Pusa N anha and Pusa Dwarf started flowering at the shortest height from ground level. The shortest dura- tion for harvest was recorded in Sunrise Solo. The longest duration for harvest was in variety Thailand. The number of flowers per cluster was higher in varieties like Thailand and lowest in CO-4. The results of the present studies showed that the percentage offruit set was the highest in CO-3 and was the lowest in Pusa Dwarf The results ofthe experiment indicate that fruit weight was the highest in Pusa Nanha while the lowest weight offruits was in CO-3, Length offruits was the highest in Pusa Nanha. The present studies indicate that among the varieties evaluated Pusa Nanha had the highest fruit girth. Pusa Nanha had the highest fruit volume and the lowest was recorded in CO-3. The highest pulp percentage was observed in T ainung. The cavity index of the twelve varieties of papaya did not differ significantly. The present studies revealed that papaya variety Thailand had low seed content. Fruit yield was the highest in CO-2. The highest TSS values were recorded in Sunrise Solo and lowest in Pusa Dwarf The data revealed that acidity of the fruits was the lowest in CO-4 and fruits ofCO-2 showed the lowest acidity. The highest ascorbic acid content was recorded in CO-3, while the lowest was in the fruits ofCO-S. The highest carotenoid content was recorded in Sunrise Solo, Washington and Coorg Honeydew.Reducing sugar was the highest in the fruits of Coorg Honeydew and CO-S. The varieties Sunrise Solo had the highest non-reducing sugars and the varieties Pusa Nanha had low non-reducing sugar content. Variation in the shape offruits on visual observation in different was observed in the present study. Ob ovoid to ellipsoid fruit shape was observed in CO-2, CO-3, CO-4, 9- I-D, Thailand, Pusa Dwarf, Pusa Nanha and Washington. Spherical varieties of papaya fruit shape was observed in CO-S, oval shape in Coorg Honeydew and pyriform in Sunrise Solo. The varieties CO-3, CO-4, Sunrise Solo, Tainung had greenish yellow peel colour while CO-S, Coorg Honeydew, Thailand and Tainung had deep yellow cO,lour. The peel colour of Pus a Dwarf and Pusa Nanha was yellow. Peel of CO-2 was light yellow at edible ripe stage. Varieties Sunrise Solo, Thailand and Tainung had orange to pinkish red pulp colour while rest of varieties had yellow colour. Among the varieties observed, CO- 3, CO-4, Sunrise Solo, Thailand and Tainung had firm flesh at edibile ripe stage, while CO-5 and Pusa Dwarf had less firm flesh. The variety Tainung obtained high score for appearance. The score for pulp colour was high for CO-2. High score for flavour was secured by Sunrise Solo. The score for taste was high in Tainung.Maximum score for texture of pulp was secured by Thailand. The variety CO-2 had less papain odour. The results of the overall assessment of orga- noleptic qualities indicated that among the varieties tested, Sunrise Solo was the most acceptable followed by Tainung, Thailand and 9-1-D. No major pests were recorded among the twelve varieties of papaya. Studies on the diseases showed varietal variation in reaction. Diseases to leaves was low in Pusa Dwarf: Pusa Nanha, Thailand and Tainung.Damage to the stem was low in Pusa Dwarf, CO-2 and Pusa Nanha. No damage was observed in fruits of Pus a Nanha, 9-1-D and Tainung. The results of the present studies reveal that the fruit yield had highly significant positive phenotypic correlation with character like fruit girth. Yield had positive and signifi- cant genotypic correlation with height at sixth month, number ofleaves, fruit weight and fruit girth. The results of present studies revealed that the phenotypic, genotypic coefficients were high for yield, number of fruits, volume of fruit, fruit weight, total sugars and percent- age offruit set. Results of the present studies revealed that the heritability values were very high for the characters total carotenoids, followed by fruit volume and percentage of fruit set. Total sugars, pulp percentage, fruit weight, T. S. S, number offruits, cavity index, number of flowers per cluster and yield had high heritability values. Genetic advance was maxi- mum for fruit volume, followed by yield and number of fruits. Based on the desirable Horticultural traits the highest scoring varieties, were Pusa Nanha and CO-2. The variety Pusa Nanha had dwarf stature, medium to large fruit size while CO-2 had high yield,moderate organoleptic qualities and both were less susceptible to major pests and diseases. The varieties Pusa Dwarfand Coorg Honeydew were also found to perform well with respect to growth, yield and quantity and hence can be grown for dessert purpose in the homesteads.ennullThesis