FORTUNA F1
HYBRID PAPAYA
FEATURES AND PRODUCTION GUIDE
• Medium fruit size
• Red pulp, always sweet, superior eating quality
• Very high uniformity of the fruit sizes and shapes throughout the harvest
• Early production
• Small plant stature, allowing higher plant densities and making harvesting easier
THE FORTUNA F1 PAPAYA
CULTURAL MANAGEMENT
PLANTING DENSITY AND SOIL PREPARATION
Recommended spacing is at least 3 meters (m) between rows. The minimum spacing must be 3.8m if the area is mechanized, for example if tractors are used for spraying and harvesting.
Between plants on the line, the spacing should be 1.6m to 2.0m maximum.
SEXING
This hybrid variety gives a 1:1 female to hermaphrodite plant ratio. Female plants have round fruits while hermaphrodite plants have cylindrical/elongated fruits. As the hermaphrodite is the preferred plant, it can be identified by sexing. Sexing means planting at least 3 seedlings per mound in order to select 1 hermaphrodite when the plant starts to develop the first flower - which is around 40 days after transplanting.
FORTUNA F1 is a new and modern hybrid, developed by East-West Seed International, with excellent adaptation to tropical and subtropical zones.
The fruits weigh an average of 1.5 kg, ranging between 0.9 kg and 1.8 kg. The flesh is red and very sweet with a mild taste. The firmness of the fruits at the point of harvest allows for transport over long distances.
Its smaller stature compared to other varieties on the market allows for dense planting, easy field management, and high production. Its strong root system provides support against lodging.
Our Fortuna F1 papaya also has good heat tolerance and excellent fruit setting, ensuring good yields even under intense climatic conditions. Like other varieties of papaya, it does not tolerate frost.
The flowers of female plants have only the ovary inside, while hermaphrodite plants have ovaries and stamens. These flower parts are easily recognizable when opening the flower bud. On the outside, the shape of the flowers is also different.
a) Elongated fruit, from a hermaphrodite plant;
b) Round fruit, from a female plant.
Hermaphrodite flower
Female flower
Weed control
Weeds must be controlled through periodic weeding or by using a mower. Papaya roots are very shallow and weeding should be done extremely carefully. The use of herbicides is not recom mended. If necessary, seek specialized technical assistance to indicate the most suitable herbicide and method of application. Plastic mulch can also be used, taking care that the plastic does not touch the plant stem. Reopen the mulch holes whenever necessary.
IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE
Lateral branches
In case of overly heavy vegetative growth, papaya tends to develop branches or side shoots. Carefully remove them, repeating this process every month or whenever necessary.
The papaya trees prefer well-drained soil.
The plants do not tolerate waterlogging, hence the importance of planting in soil with good drainage. The use of practices that improve aeration, decompaction and soil drainage, should be considered. These include subsoiling, deep harrowing, planting in ridges and even land drainage.
For commercial production, irrigation is indispensable with drip irrigation being the most efficient system for the crop. Consider the use of two drip lines per crop line, in order to increase the area explored by the roots.
These plants can require 40 liters of water per day, depending on the type of soil and weather conditions. Irrigation should be as fractional as possible, keeping the soil always moist, but without waterlogging.
Leaf Sanitation Fruit thinning
Old leaves, yellowish or dry leaves must be removed. The idea is to remove the leaf manually by cutting the petiole halfway to the trunk.The petiole remains intact, still attached to the trunk, and must be removed as soon as it wilts.
Fortuna F1 papaya plants have the potential to set a large amount of fruits. This amount can even be excessive, with 3 or more fruits per cluster. Excess fruit must be periodically removed. Defective or non-standard fruit can be removed at this time. Fruit thinning directly influences the quality of the remaining fruits and their size. Thus, the producer can adjust the amount of discarded fruit depending on the desired size and quality.
NUTRITION
Papaya is very demanding in phosphorus, potassium and calcium. Adequate levels of micronutrients must be maintained, especially boron, iron, copper and manganese.
Soil base saturation should be determined through soil analysis and, if necessary, corrected to V%=80%.
Phosphorus must be used in foundation, and the other nutrients supplied in top dressing or fertigation.
1:1 from transplanting to sexing.
Use the following ratios of Nitrogen : Potassium
Seek technical assistance for fertilizer recommendation, according to soil analysis. N K
1:2 to 1:2.5 from sexing to the beginning of fruit maturation (development phase).
1:3 to 1:4 harvest phase.
After 40 days from transplanting, make foliar applications containing Ca + B + Fe + Cu + Mn, every 2-3 weeks. Other micronutrients can be supplied via foliar spraying, according to soil analysis.
PHYTOSANITARY
Papaya can be attacked by various pests and diseases. The most common are listed below:
• Meleira Virus (PMeV - Papaya Meleira Virus)
• Mosaic Virus or Papaya Ringspot Virus (PRSV - Papaya Ringspot Virus)
Plants with viruses must be identified and eradicated.
Other measures to prevent the spread of viruses:
• Apply systemic insecticides to combat sucking insects.
• Do not plant areas close to old papaya areas.
• Avoid proximity to cucurbits (melon, watermelon, pumpkin).
• Avoid the transit of people and animals in the area.
• Make the seedlings in places far from papaya crops, preferably in protected nurseries.
• Inspect all the plants weekly, eliminating the infected ones.
Fungal diseases must be prevented with the application of contact fungicides, based on copper, mancozeb, chlorothalonil or methyl -thiophanate. Fungicide applications must take place before and during the rainy season. If the disease is present, use systemic fungicides such as triazoles or strobilurins.
Phytophthora rot appears when there is damage to the roots. If a lesion appears on the trunk, scrape and remove, applying a copper-based fungicide paste over the damaged part.
(Polyphagotarsonemus latus)
• Leafhopper (Empoasca spp.)
The spotted mite occurs when the climate is hot and dry, while the white mite prefers the cold climate. Leafhoppers are more common during rainy periods.
The mites can be fought with chemical or biological miticides, when present, or they can be avoided through the use of sulfur or lime sulfur, which are repellent.
Monitoring pests and diseases is the most effective tool to prevent economic damage.
Leafhoppers should be managed with systemic insecticides against sucking insects. High leafhopper infestations can kill plants.
For papaya pest and diseases identification and management, please visit plant doctor at https://www.plantdoctor.eastwestseed.com For crop and technical guides, please visit GrowHow at https://growhow.eastwestseed.com/crop-guide-template/papaya
HARVEST
Harvesting begins as soon as the fruits show the first signs of maturation, with the appearance of yellow tinge color near the edge of the fruit.
The ideal ripening point is when the rind of the fruit shows 1 to 3 yellow streaks or about 10% to 20% of yellow color.
• Do not pick the fruits by twisting them which can result in scraping them against the plant trunk.
• Place your hand between the fruit and the trunk when harvesting.
• Do not drop or even place the fruit on the ground.
• Don't throw the fruits.
• Do not stack the fruits.
The fruits should be carefully removed from the plant and preferably placed in plastic containers, if possible lined with paper, plastic bubble wrap or polyurethane foam. Due to the thin skin of the fruits, observe the following recommendations:
• Pay close attention to transport speed to avoid damage.
• Wear gloves. Fruits exude latex, which quickly causes skin injuries. Gloves also protect the skin of the fruits from nail damage.
