Introduction

English: Pawpaw; Swahili: papaya. Pawpaw is a widely cultivated fruit tree in the tropics and subtropics. General Benefits of Pawpaw Ripe papaya is a favorite breakfast and dessert fruit that is available year-round.

It can be used to make fruit salads, refreshing drinks, jam, jelly, marmalade, candies and crystallized fruits. Green fruits are pickled or cooked as a vegetable.

Requirements for papaya growing

  • Papaya is a tropical plant that grows best in warmer climates.
  • They perform best on deep, well drained soils with high organic matter.
  • Most soil types are suitable but avoid heavy clay soils.
  • Good drainage is very important for papaya production to minimize loss of trees to root rots and water-logging.
  • The trees should be planted between 2m apart and regular mulching is recommended.

Diseases Affecting Papaya

Papaya ring spot

[caption id="attachment_4158" align="alignnone" width="300"] papaya ring spot[/caption]

Symptoms

Leaves develop prominent mosaic and chlorosis on the leaf lamina, and water soaked oily streaks on the petioles and upper part of the trunk.  Severe symptoms often include a distortion of young leaves.

Distinctive ring spot patterns on fruit consisting of concentric rings and spots, or c-shaped markings - these markings persist during ripening and can darken to become orange-brown rings as the fruit matures

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Spread

Aphids transmit the virus to papaya in a non persistent manner;

Control

There is no cure for papaya ring spot disease.
On commercial plantations the early detection and prompt removal of infected plants can contain a localized outbreak. However once the disease becomes established, diseased trees and severely affected blocks should be destroyed, as they provide a source of infection for further spread.

Powdery mildew    

[caption id="attachment_4159" align="alignnone" width="300"] powdery mildew in pawpaw[/caption]

symptoms

Small slightly darkened areas, which later become white powdery spots. These spots enlarge and cover the entire leaf area.

Control

Apply sulfur or copper-based fungicides to prevent infection of susceptible plants. For best results, apply early or at first sign of disease. Spray all plant parts thoroughly and repeat at 7-10 day intervals up to the day of harvest.

Anthracnose

[caption id="attachment_4160" align="alignnone" width="222"] anthracnose in papaya[/caption]

Symptoms

Fungal disease caused by the pathogen Colletotrichum gloeosporioides.
Small well defined dried pink spots on the surface of ripening fruit. Later, these lesions grow to 5 cm diameter, become rounded, sunken (from 3 to 5 mm deep) and brown to black in color.

Control

Keep ripening fruits from touching the soil.

Preventative fungicides may help control papaya anthracnose. Use a fungicide containing Copper hydroxide or Mancozeb. Spray the orchard with the fungicide every two weeks.

Papaya mosaic

[caption id="attachment_4161" align="alignnone" width="150"] papaya mosaic virus[/caption]

Symptoms

Top young leaves of the plants are reduced in size and show blister like patches of dark-green tissue, alternating with yellowish-green lamina.

Control

The virus can be spread through human activity, tools and equipment. Frequently wash your hands and disinfect garden tools, stakes, ties, pots, greenhouse benches to reduce the risk of contamination and avoid working in the garden during damp conditions (viruses are easily spread when plants are wet).

Damping off

Symptoms

Disease of young seedlings. Fungus colonizes the seed and hinders germination. Lesions are seen on the stem at or just above soil level. The stem becomes watery and shrinks, followed by death of the plant.

Control

Use a sterile potting mix, rather than soil from your garden while sowing seeds. Plant your seeds at the proper depth and don’t crowd your seedlings.