Growth and Quality of Papaya 'Tainung 01' Seedlings Submitted to Different Irrigation Depths

Abstract

Performing an adequate irrigation management for the production of papaya seedlings is essential to obtain plants that express all their genetic potential. For this reason, this work aimed to evaluate the effect of different irrigation depths on the growth and quality of papaya type 'Tainung 01' seedlings. The study took place at the Federal Institute of Espírito Santo, Campus Itapina, located in the in Colatina, in the Northwest region of the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil. The experimental design was completely randomized with 25 repetitions for each treatment. The treatments consisted on the application of six irrigation depths: 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 mm d -1. The seedlings were evaluated at 65 days after planting for the following morphological characteristics: plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, leaf area, dry mass of the aerial part, dry mass of the root system, total dry mass and Dickson quality index. The irrigation depth of 9.16 mm d -1 had a higher Dickson quality index attesting a higher quality of seedlings, being the most suitable for the production of papaya 'Tainung 01' seedlings.

Production of “Mel” Papaya Seedlings under the Application of Different Irrigation Depths

“…In all the analyzed characteristics of the "Mel" papaya seedlings, there was a negative influence both for the deficit and the water excess generated by the smallest and largest irrigation depths, respectively. This fact was also observed in the production of papaya cultivars "Rubi INCAPER 511" [10], "Tainung 01" [11] and "Golden THB" [12].…”

“…For papaya, water management protocols have already been reported in the production of seedlings of the cultivars "Rubi INCAPER 511" [10], "Tainung 01" [11] and "Golden THB" [12]. However, the different degrees of tolerance to the reduction of water humidity are associated with the individual's adaptation, which refers to a level of resistance genetically determined [13] or induced by natural selection, being fundamental application of specific studies to new materials, such as "Mel" papaya tree, a hybrid cultivar belonging to the Formosa group, with great market potential, due to high productivity, small size, uniformly shaped fruits and highly sweet pulp [14].…”