COMBINING ABILITY STUDIES IN CARICA-PAPAYA L WITH RESPECT TO YIELD AND QUALITY CHARACTERS

The present study indicated that the characters yield, fruit length, fruit breadth, and TSS are maternally influenced in their inheritance. Exploitation of hererosis is feasible as these characters are controlled by non additive effects to a greater extent. Improvement in quality characters can be brought about by selection. 'Thailand' was observed to be a good combiner for fruit length, fruit breadth, and fruit volume. 'Coorg Honey Dew' was observed to be good combiner for yield, fruit length, fruit breadth, and fruit volume. For the characters fruit length, fruit breadth, fruit weight, fruit volume, pulp thickness, TSS, and fruit cavity index 'Pink Flesh Sweet' (IIHR Selection) was noticed to be the best combiner. The cultivars 'Sunrise Solo' and 'Waimanalo' were observed to be good combiners for quality characters.