Dwarf Carica papaya…the real farmers delight

Dwarf Carica papayas are hybrid pawpaw fruits-bearing plants that grow to height less than 10 feet. Some varieties are between 5-7 feet. There are different varieties of dwarf carica papaya which include Red Royale, Lunar, Sinta, Vega, Chara, Mikaili, Mimosa, Maradona, Waimanalo, Red lady etc.

Thailand dwarf hybrid pawpaw generally called Red Royale is now being marketed in Nigeria by East-west Seeds Company, An Asian Company that has through intensive breeding programs become a market leader by selling premium quality hybrid and open pollinated seeds for all major tropical vegetable crops in Africa. The company does not sell Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).

East-West Seed Company sells the Red Royale F1 dwarf papaya hybrid which has excellent fruit setting ability and vigorous plants with sturdy stems. It can be used both for fresh consumption and for making juice. The fruits are large, sweet, with thick flesh, and deep red in colour.

Some individuals in Nigeria have been selling this Red Royale papaya seed at a cheaper price but it is not the F1 generation but an F2 generation. An F1 hybrid (or filial 1 hybrid) is the first filial generation of offspring of distinctly different parental types. F2 hybrids are the result of self or cross pollination of F1s. The disadvantage of the F2 hybrid is that they lack the consistency of F1s, though they may retain some desirable traits. F2 seedlings are not uniform, while some might be extremely tall, other may be extremely short. Also F2 dwarf Red royale is not resistant to diseases such as ring spot virus. F2 is produced more cheaply because hand pollination or other special interventions are not required.

Characteristics of Red Royale F1

·         A vigorous hybrid with evident dwarf plant habit

·         Strong thick stems

·         Good level of virus resistance

·         Excellent setting ability

·         Med-large size fruit with thick flesh

·         Attractive red colour and very sweet

·         Maturity 8-9 months after planting

·         Weight 2 - 2.5kgs

·         Deep red color, very sweet

·         High yielding

·         Globe and oblong shape

·       It produces excellently for about 3 years (after this period, fruits size may decrease)

Resistances / Tolerances:

·         Intermediate tolerance to Papaya Ring Spot Virus

East West Seed Company has its Nigerian office in Kaduna. Interested persons should contact Hadiza at hadiza.yaro@eastwestseed.com or call 08034274570, 08025164970.

Health benefits of Pawpaw

·        Lowers cholesterol: Papayas are rich in fibre, vitamin C and antioxidants that prevent cholesterol build up in your arteries.

·    Helps weight loss: One medium sized papaya contains just 120 calories. It also has a considerable amount of dietary fibre that aids weight loss by promoting a feeling of fullness and controlling cravings.

·     Boost immunity: The immune system acts as a shield against various infections that can make one fall sick. A single papaya can fulfil more than 200% of your daily requirement of Vitamin C, making it great to build a stronger immune system.

·     Good for diabetics: Despite being sweet in nature, papayas are low in sugar content as well as glycemic index. This property makes papayas excellent fruits for diabetics.

·   Great for your eyes: Papayas are rich in Vitamin A and flavonoids like beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, cyptoxanthin and lutein which keep the mucus membranes in the eyes healthy, preventing them from damage.

·    Protects against arthritis: Eating papayas are good for your bones as they have anti-inflammatory properties along with Vitamin C which helps in keeping various forms of arthritis at bay.

·    Improves digestion: Papaya has a digestive enzyme known as papain along with fibre which helps improve digestive health.

    Helps ease menstrual pain: Papaya has as an enzyme called papain that helps in regulating and easing flow during menstrual periods.

·        Prevents signs of ageing: Papaya is rich in vitamin C, vitamin E and antioxidants like beta-carotene which helps prevent the skin from free radical damage thus keeping wrinkles and other signs of ageing at bay.

·      Promotes hair growth: Apart from keeping the skin healthy, papayas are very effective for maintaining healthy hair. Vitamin A in them is utilised in production of sebum, a compound that is crucial for keeping the hair smooth, shiny and moisturised.

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     Prevents cancer: Papaya is a rich source of antioxidants, phytonutrients and flavonoids that prevent the cells from undergoing free radical damage.