Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 5.3
Types of papaya flowers and tree forms
Types Tree sex
a
Flower sex
a
Description
Staminate ♂ ♂ Typical unisexual flower on long peduncles
Teratological staminate ♂ ♂ Found on sex-reversing male trees, with
some degree of carpel initiation and
development. A number of hair-like struc-
tures—vestigial carpels—found at base
Reduced elongata H ♂ Modified normal elongata flowers dif-
fer from staminate flowers in having a
thicker and stiffer corolla tube, abortion
of pistils and reduced ovary size and
number of carpels. More frequent flower
types produced during warm periods and
late summer, and can last from 1-2 weeks
to 6 months, depending upon cultivar and
temperature
Elongata (normal type) H H Elongata refers to the shape of the pistil
terminating in fine lobes; these flow-
ers develop into pyriform or cylindrical
fruits, five laterally fused carpels. Petals
fused two-thirds of length
Carpelloid elongate H ♀ Transformation of the inner series of
stamens into carpel-like structures.
Numerous types with different number of
stamens becoming carpelloid and degree
of carpellody, from slight to developing
locules with functional stigma. Fruit to
varying degrees misshaped
Pentadria H ♀ Normal hermaphrodite type, modified uni-
sexual pistillate flower, through stepwise
stamen transformation to carpels, with
loss of the original carpels. Short corolla
tube, only five stamens of the outer whorl
on long filaments globose and furrowed
pistil. From 5 to 10 carpels
Carpelloid pentandria H ♀ The stamens of the outer whorl become
carpelloid. Carpellodic forms in carious
stage, especially under cool condi-
tions. All 5 stamens fully carpelloid and
fused laterally, with abortion of original
carpels. Flowers resemble pistillate
flowers—pseudo—pistillate
Pistillate ♀ ♀ Unisexual flowers larger than H flower,
lack stamens. Flowering form stable and
unchanged by environment
a
Staminate or male (♂), hermaphrodite (H) and female, (♀)
hole can increase the probability of obtaining a hermaphrodite plant (Table
5.4
).
The probability when planting four plants per hole is 98.76 % against 96.29 % with
3 plants per hole. In the case of preferring a female plant, by crossing a female with
a hermaphrodite plant the percentage may rise to 93.75 % (four plants per hole) or
87.50 % for 3 plants per hole.
