Papaya is propagated by seed. To replicate the preferred qualities it is best to get seeds through montored pollination. The fleshy outer layer of the seed coat (sarcotesta) enveloping the seed is taken off because it prevents germination. This is achieved by rubbing the seed together against a fine-meshed screen under water. Thoroughly dehydrated seeds stored in air-tight containers remain usable for quite a lot of years. Seeds are sown in small containers (tin cans, plastic bags or paper cups) at the rate of three-4 seeds per container. Use of sterilized soil reduces potential losses resulting from nematodes and damping-off fungi. Germination requires 2-3 weeks.
An additional procedure is to sow the seeds in sterilized nursery beds and to prick out at the 2-3-leaf stage, transferring 3-four seedlings to each container. Seedlings are transplanted about two months following sowing when they achieve the three-4-leaf period or 20 cm height, if possible at the arrival of the rainy season. During transplanting, take thought not to disturb the roots. Older seedlings recuperate poorly after planting out.
Papaya needs adequate drainage and is frequently planted on mounds or ridges. Transplants have to be watered often until they are established. Field spacings are in the order of three x two m to two.50 x 1.60 m, giving densities of 1667 and 2500 plants/ha correspondingly. The same densities are provided by planting in double rows spaced (three.25+1.75) x two.40 m or (2.50+1.50) x 2 m. Thinning to one female or one hermaphrodite plant per hill is done when the plants reach the blossoming stage. In the lack of hermaphrodite plants, 1 male plant per 25-100 female plants is kept as a pollinator.
Papaya plants grown from seed turn out fruits of unique shapes, measurements, colour and even taste. Vegetative propagation of papaya delivers a solution to nearly all of these problems. The clone is chosen for higher efficiency and excellent quality fruits besides agronomic qualities such as shortness for easy harvesting and good resistance to diseases. Propagation of papaya using tissue culture is fast gaining popularity, mainly because tissue culture has numerous advantages over other conventional methods of propagation. Tissue culture facilitates fast production of disease free plants. In Kenya such plants are obtainable from Kenya Agriculture Research Institute, Thika as well as multiple private companies.
Author: Paw Paw or Papaya
loading...
