Protected cultivation of 'BH-65', 'Siluet', 'Sensation', 'Intenzza' and 'Red Lady' papaya cultivars in South East Spain/Um novo modo mais lucrativo para o cultivo de mamoeiro selecionando as melhores variedades para o cultivo em estufa

Papaya (Caricapapaya L.) is a tropical fruit crop of rapid growth and early yielding. In recent years, papaya cultivation has extended to subtropical regions due to its commercial interest. In South East Spain, protected cultivation is, however, mandatory to ensure the optimal development of the crop. Even more, to assure profitability, the selection of plant material well adapted to the structural constrains and the climatic conditions inside greenhouses is essential. With this objective, different papaya cultivars with diverse geographical origin, characteristics and pedigree have been compared. 'BH-65', 'Siluet', 'Sensation', 'Intenzza' and 'Red Lady' papaya cultivars were thus grown under a plastic greenhouse in Almeria, SE Spain and their growth, phenology, yield and fruit quality compared in a 21-month production cycle. The results showed that 'Siluet' and 'Sensation' papayas are well-adapted to greenhouse protected cultivation, produce high yield, and optimal fruit quality for long and short distance markets. Cultivars like 'BH-65' could be of interest for low-height greenhouses due to its reduced plant vigor and high fruit quality. However, 'BH-65' yield is low. According to the European consumer preferences, the cultivation of 'Siluet' and 'Sensation' is recommended, for the harsh conditions the greenhouse cultivation imposes in subtropics. Index terms: Carica papaya L.; fruit quality; protected cultivation; variety trials; yield. O mamoeiro (Carica papaya L.) e uma fruteira tropical de rapido crescimento e de produceo precoce. Nos ultimos anos, o cultivo de mameo estendeu-se as regioes subtropicais devido ao seu interesse comercial. No sudeste da Espanha, o cultivo protegido e, no entanto, necessario para garantir o desenvolvimento ideal da colheita. Ainda mais, para garantir rentabilidade, e essencial a seleceo de material vegetal bem adaptado as restricoes estruturais e as condicoes climaticas dentro das estufas. Com esse objetivo, diferentes cultivares de mamoeiro, com diversas origens geograficas, caracteristicas e genealogia, foram comparadas. As cultivares de mamoeiro 'BH-65', 'Siluet', 'Sensation', 'Intenzza' e 'Red Lady' foram cultivadas em uma estufa plastica em Almeria, sudeste da Espanha, e seu crescimento, fenologia, produtividade e qualidade do fruto foram comparados em um Ciclo de produceo de 21 meses, iniciado em junho de 2014 e encerrado em fevereiro de 2016. Os resultados mostraram que as cultivares 'Siluet' e 'Sensation' esteo b