The performance of solo and sunset papaya cultivars under the environment of Egypt [electronic resource]: A:vegetative growth and fruit composition during the developmental stages].

Includes reference.

The perfonnance of two known cultivars of papaya i.e., Solo and Sunset under the environments of Giza, Egypt were studied. Such studies are included vegetative growth and characteristics of developing fruits. Results indicated that Solo plant was much taller which had were leaves number per plant than Sunset one during both seasons of study. Most of plant height increases occurred during the period from February to May then slight increases were observed from September to December. Leaves area in Sunset cv were significantly higher than those of Solo cv. Leaf area increased during the period from Feb. to May then no remarkable changes in leaves area were noticed during the period from May to December. Fruit weight and size increased slightly until fruit age of 60 days in both cvs then gradual increases occurred until the age of 120 days of anthesis. The final swell started until the fruit ripening; 150 and 160 days for Sunset and Solo cultivars, respectively. Papaya fruit growth under the environment of Egypt followed the familiar pattern of double sigmoid type of growth curve Fruit weight, size and pulp (%) were significantly higher in solo cv compared to sunset cv in both seasons. Total soluble solids percentage was low (less than 5%) until 120 days of anthesis folloed by a sudden sharp increase until the fruit reached the harvesting stage in the two cultivars. The titeratable acidity of papaya fruits was high at the early stages of growth followed by a gradual decrease until the fruit reached its lowest acidity content at the harvesting stage in solo and sunset cvs. There was a high intial value of ascorbic acid content at the early stages of fruit development declining pattern then took place until fruit aged 60 days followed by gradual increases until reaching its maximum value at the harvesting stage in the two cultivars. TSS and acidity were found to be signigicantly higher in Sunset cv compared to Solo cv. Ascorbic acid content was also statistically higher in Solo cv. It could be concluded that these two cultivars strongly confirm the recommendation of planting them due to their good performance under Giza environemnts.

Summary in Arabic.

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