Evaluation of Papaya Cultivars in the Valley of Les Cayes, Haiti

Papaya is one of the most nutritionally and economically important fruits grown in Haiti. A field experiment was conducted at Ducis, in the Valley of Les Cayes, South Haiti, to evaluate six commercial papaya cultivars (Red Lady# 786, Gold Maradol, Red Maradol, Hawaiian Solo Sunrise, Tainung#1, and Known You #1) and two local accessions (CA 1208-1, CA 1310-1) for plant vigor, fruit yield, and tolerance to papaya ringspot virus (PRSV). The experimental layout was a randomized complete block design of eight papaya cultivars in three replications. The experimental unit comprised a row of 5 papaya plants spaced 2.5 m within and between the rows. The variables measured were stem diameter, plat height, disease index, and fruit yield. There was no significant difference between the papaya cultivars for stem diameter (P-value = 0.426818), but there were significant differences for plant height (P-value = 0.00559), disease index (P-value = 0.0464), and fruit yield (P-value = 0.000101). The papaya cultivar Tainung #1 (33124.27 kg·ha-1), followed by Known You #1 (22813.33 kg·ha-1), had the highest fruit yield while the cultivar Gold Maradol (Disease Index = 1.80) had the highest tolerance to PRSV at 6 months after planting.