Growth, yield and fruit quality of three papaya cultivars grown under protected cultivation

Introduction. Papaya is grown mainly under tropical conditions due to its requirement of high temperatures year-round. With modern greenhouse technology and production systems, the Mediterranean countries are now able to produce many tropical crops such as banana and papaya. Such technology has also increased the yield and improved fruit quality in comparison with open field production systems. Materials and methods. Our study was conducted in an unheated greenhouse in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. Three papaya cultivars (‘SS-45’, ‘BH-65’ and ‘Sel-42’) were evaluated for their physical and physicochemical properties and yield. Results. There were no significant differences in chemical properties related to fruit cultivars. Conversely, certain features of the development cycle of these three cultivars varied: BH-65 flowered at only 65.4 cm compared with SS-45 (133.8 cm) and Sel-42 (135.1 cm). Fruit set was improved for Sel-42 (63.7 fruits) compared with SS-45 (49.3 fruits) and BH-65 (31.3 fruits). The corresponding yields for Sel-42, SS-45 and BH-65 were (28.3, 21.3 and 7.8) kg per plant, respectively. The Sel-42 cultivar presented the largest fruits (weight, 460.0 g; width, 11.7 cm; length, 16.7 cm), closely followed by those of SS-45 (433.3 g, 11.3 cm and 15.3 cm, respectively). In contrast, the cultivar BH-65 produced the smallest fruits (weight, 250.0 g; width, 9.7 cm; length, 13.3 cm). The physical and chemical characteristics did not vary among the cultivars. Conclusion. Our results allow us to recommend the cultivars Sel-42 and SS-45 for greenhouse cultivation under a Mediterranean climate in Turkey. Introduction. Le papayer est principalement cultivé en conditions tropicales en raison de ses besoins en températures élevées toute l’année. Grâce à la technologie à effet de serre et aux systèmes modernes de production, les pays méditerranéens sont maintenant capables de produire de nombreuses cultures tropicales telles que bananiers et papayers. Une telle technologie a aussi augmenté le rendement et amélioré la qualité des fruits par rapport au système de production à l’air libre. Matériel et méthodes. Notre étude a été menée dans une serre non chauffée, en conditions méditerranéennes de Turquie. Trois cultivars de papaye (SS-45, BH-65, et Sel-42) ont été évalués pour leurs caractéristiques physiques et physico-chimiques et leurs rendements. Résultats. Il n’y a eu aucune différence significative des propriétés chimiques des fruits liée aux cultiv