Gamma irradiation mutagenesis in papaya (Carica papaya L.) cv. Arka Prabhath for improving shelf life and post harvest fruit quality

Papaya is nutritionally important crop but needs improvement in resistance to virus, shelf life and fruit quality. Mutational influence on shelf life and fruit quality was studied by irradiating papaya seeds. On experimenting, lowest post harvest loss in weight was observed in R16P18 (5.69%), R15P19 (5.50%) and R16P14 (6.09%), good fruit cavity index R15P20 (14.55%), length and width. The highest shelf life was in R17P14 (15 days) and R14P15 (14.50 days). The highest surface texture of fruits were recorded in R14P15 (11.22 kg cm–2), R17P14 (10.74) and R15P20 (10.30) mutants. The good pulp thickness was observed in R14P19 (5cm), R14P15 (4.9cm), R12P14 and R17P18 (4.45cm). R11P19 (12.95°brix), R12P12 (13 °brix), R14P19 (14°brix) and R15P19 (12.8°brix) mutants recorded highest TSS. The highest surface color was recorded in R11P19 and highest pulp color was recorded in R14P15. These mutant lines were selected and forwarded to next generation for future mutational studies.