Prominent Traits of Some F1 Hybrid Papaya Lines in Thailand

This study identified and compared characteristics of 10 F1 hybrid papayas that were obtained by crossing five cultivars selected for high yield and tolerance to Papaya ring spot virus (PRSV). The hybrids were tested at the Papaya Research and Development Center, Maha Sarakham Province, from January to December 2013. The results showed that hybrids No. 1 (‘Yellow Krang’ × ‘Red Krang’), No. 2 (‘Yellow Krang’ × ‘Khaek Dam’), No. 3 (‘Yellow Krang’ × ‘Florida’), No. 4 (‘Yellow Krang’ × ‘Khaek Nuan’) and No. 5 (‘Khaek Dam’ × ‘Khaek Nuan’) had good yield and fruit qualities but they were more susceptible to PRSV than hybrids No. 6 (‘Khaek Dam’ × ‘Florida’), No. 7 (‘Red Krang’ × ‘Florida’), No. 8 (‘Red Krang’ × ‘Khaek Nuan’), No. 9 (‘Khaek Dam’ × ‘Florida’) and No. 10 (‘Florida’ × ‘Khaek Nuan’). Hybrid No. 2 (‘Yellow Krang’ × ‘Khaek Dam’) had the lowest tolerance to PRSV, with disease incidence of 3.56 on a scale of 0–4. Hybrids No. 2 and No. 5 produced more fruits than the others, while hybrid No. 3 had the lowest yield with only 16 fruits/plant/year. Hybrids with ‘Florida’ cultivar as parent tended to have better tolerance to PRSV.