Studies on nutritive characteristics and variability in pawpaw (Carica papaya L.)

Abstract

Fruits of fifteen morphotypes of Carica papaya of "sunrise solo" was evaluated to determine their nutritive characteristics, phenotypic and genotypic variability as well as the heritability and expected genetic advance of the nutritive traits. The result indicated that the moisture content was high among the morphotypes and differed significantly (p<0.01). Protein values were significantly different among the morphotypes and ranged from 0.293 to 0.82%. Crude fat was low in all the morphortypes and the morphotypes varied significantly (p<0.01) in carbohydrate, ash, moisture content and dry matter contents. The mineral and vitamin contents of the morphotypes also varied significantly from one another (p<0.01). High thiamine content was observed in Pear red fruits while vitamin C content was high in oblong yellow fruits. The variability observed in these traits were more of genetic nature than non-genetic and indicates that there is considerable scope for selections in the morphotypes. High heritability and genetic advance was observed in crude fibre, ash, calcium, sodium, protein and riboflavin indicating that selection for these traits can be effective for their improvement. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2012.