DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW PAPAYA (Carica papaya L.) HYBRID IBP 42-99

摘要

The most important papaya (Carica papaya L.) variety in Cuba is Red Maradol, with a total cultivated area of 4377ha, a yearly production of 51659ton and a yield of 17ton/ha. This variety produces large fruits with a low °Brix (10-11%), The objective of this work was to obtain papaya hybrids from the Red Maradol variety with higher quality (higher Brix and smaller fruits) through the crossing with other commercial varieties (Red Laidy, Sunrise, Cotove, Solo Kapoho). Elite plants from Red Maradol and other papaya varieties were selected as progenitors for crossing. Resultant hybrid plants were plantedrnin field conditions. After 50 days of cultivation the first evaluation of plant height was done in order to detect early differences with the progenitors. Hybrid F (Red MaradolxStrawberry) plants differentiated from the rest, showing a greater number of fruits with a smaller diameter compared to all other evaluated fruits. Plant #2 of this hybrid was select as it had the best characteristic fruits with 14.5% of °Brix and 1kg of fresh weight, and was named IBP 42-99. Plant material from IBP 42-99 was further introduced in vitro from field plant apexes.