Vol. 11, Special Issue 8 (2022)

Author(s):
Bhadarka Chandni R, Kanzaria DR, Karmur NN, Muskan Sandh H, Dr. Parsana JS, Patel HN and Parmar VM

Abstract:
Papaya (Carica papaya L.) belongs to Caricaceae family and is native of tropical America and it was introduced in India in 16^th century from Malacca. It is an interesting plant producing fruits of many uses and grown under tropical and subtropical conditions. It is popularly known as paw paw or papaw (British), mamao (Brazil) and lechosa (Venezuela). Papaya is a fast growing, short lived herbaceous plant and unbranched which bears fruits within a year. The plant is 2-10 m in height with a straight, cylindrical, soft and hollow trunk surrounded by the apex portion and forming a crown. The fruits are borne on the growing axils of the plant. Being a quick and heavy yielding crop, it is grown widely all over India; both commercially as well as in home gardens. The growers are increasing area under papaya cultivation due to great demand as table fruits as well as vegetable when unripe. Papaya is a nutritive fruit and a chief source of carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals in the daily diet of the people. Propagation of papaya is done only through seeds as a viable option. With the commercialization of papaya cultivation, the demand for quality seeds of well-established varieties has increased therefore proper seed germination and seedling growth are most important considerations in successful seedling production under nursery technique of papaya cultivation. The slow and synchronous germination of papaya seeds is attributed to the time of sowing. Climatic parameters plays an important role in seed germination and seedling growth. Erratic change in climatic parameters shows to impose the effect on seed germination and growth of seedlings. Hence, the time of sowing is very important and plays an important role among lot other factors due to variation in climatic parameters which is a major limiting and promoting factor for the growth and development of seedlings of papaya.