Papaya (Carica papaya Linn.) is an important fruit crop of tropical world and has long been known as wonder fruit of the tropics. It gives higher production of fruits per hectare and an income next to banana (Singh, 1990). It belongs to the family Caricaceae. It is closely related to Carica peltata which occurs in this area and may have arisen by hybridization. It was taken by the Spanish to Manila in the mid-16th century and reached Malacca shortly afterwards. From there it was brought to India.

Jadhav Parag Babaji - M.Sc. (Hort.), Department of Fruit ScienceAspee College of Horticulture and Forestry, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari.