Rj. Elder et al., Growth, yield and phenology of 2 hybrid papayas (Carica papaya L.) as influenced by method of water application, AUST J EX A, 40(5), 2000, pp. 739-746
Highly variable, outcrossed papaya lines irrigated with overhead sprinklers
were grown at Yarwun (151.3 degrees E, 23.75 degrees S) in Queensland, Aus
tralia. The inherent variability made scientifically based comparative stud
ies impractical. The advent of uniform hybrid papaya lines allowed the test
ing of 2 of these hybrids under 3 irrigation methods, 2 of which had the po
tential to greatly reduce water use compared with overhead sprinklers. Yiel
ds of 92 t/ha.year were achieved by both papaya Hybrids 29 and 1E. Water ap
plication method did not influence yield. About 26% of plants were lost due
to the phytoplasma diseases dieback, yellow crinkle and mosaic over the li
fe of the trial. Downward yield fluctuations were related to poor fruit set
in winter when pollinators (Family Sphingidae) were not present and growth
was slow due to hot dry periods affecting fruit set. The resultant fruit (
about 6 months later) were small and reduced in number.
Irrigation with overhead sprinklers using saline water (1400-4000 mu S/cm)
damaged leaves and reduced growth of plants. Winter spot was most severe in
July, August and September, in Hybrid 29 with overhead irrigation.
Height of plants 13 weeks after planting was greater under trickle irrigati
on due to less damage from the saline water supply than in the overhead spr
inkler treatment. Hybrid 29 set fruit at 94.3 cm above ground compared with
117.6 cm for Hybrid 1E.