Papaya - Tropical and Subtropical Fruits: Postharvest Physiology, Processing and Packaging - page 291

consumption reaches 6.8 kg in Hawaii (FAO, 2009) and
3.5 kg in the Canary Islands (Spain) (COPLACA, pers.
comm.).

Table 16.2. Papaya production, exports, and
imports by region by quantity (metric tons).

Production Exports Imports

Region (2010) (2009 1 ) (2009 1 )

TAXONOMY AND MORPHOLOGY
Papaya belongs to the Caricaceae family being Carica pa-
paya the only specie of economic importance. Morpho-
logical description of papaya can be found in a number
of sources (Morton, 1987; Du Puy and Telford, 1993;
OECD, 2005). It is an almost herbaceous (succulently soft-
wooded), typically unbranched small tree with latex vessels
in all parts (Fig. 16.2). The hollow green or deep purple
trunk can grow up to 10 m, is straight and cylindrical with
prominent leaf scars, and can become 30-40 cm thick at the
base, thinning to 5-7.5 cm at the crown. The leaves emerge
directly from the upper part of the stem in a spiral on nearly
horizontal petioles 25-100 cm long and form a loose open
crown. The petioles end in a leaf blade deeply divided into
five to nine main lobes, and each lobe, cut pinnately, has
prominent yellowish ribs and veins. Colleters (short-lived
multicellular stalked globules) are present at leaf bases and

Asia 6,151,180 46,395 39,347

South America 2,518,284 33,344 2,969

Africa 1,362,480 3,516 658

Central America
and Caribbean

1,137,235 171,553 7,479

Northern America 13,650 8,091 169,660

Oceania 12,480 198 628

Europe 8,000 13,305 47,272

1 Latest data available.
Source: FAO (2011).

average is 0.08 kg per person per year (Anon, 2009), while
in the United States, it is 0.42 kg (FAO, 2009), and in
Australia, it is 0.9 kg (Horticulture Australia, 2007). The

Figure 16.2. Papaya plantation under mesh greenhouse, Canary Islands (A, A 1 ); hermaphrodite flower (B);
female flower (C); male flower (D); female fruit (E); hermaphrodite fruit (F). ∗ Seedless fruit by pollination
deficiencies (typical in greenhouse cultivation).
Photos from M. C. Rodrıguez Pastor (ICIA). For color detail, please see color plate section.