Papaya (Carica papaya) is an important and widely-cultivated tropical
fruit, grown in more than 70 countries of the world. Global papaya
production has grown significantly over the last few years, mainly as a
result of increased production in India. Papaya has become an important
agricultural export for developing countries where export revenues of
the fruit provide a livelihood for thousands of people, especially in
Asia and Latin America.
There have been a number of recent research developments with the
potential to improve crop yields and quality. New research has
contributed to our understanding of the crop environment, plant growth
and physiology of tree and fruit development with implications for both
breeding and cultivation. Analysis of the papaya genome promises new,
faster breeding techniques to improved cultivars. These and other
advances are helping to tackle disease like papaya ring spot viruses and
major pests which still cause significant losses.
With contributions from international experts, the book presents the
current state of knowledge concerning the history, physiology, culture
and marketing of papaya throughout the world. It is an essential
resource for researchers, growers and all those involved in the papaya
industry.