Field evaluation of tissue-cultured papaw clones in Queensland

Abstract

Field performance of tissue-cultured clones of papaws established either from adult tissue of a high-yielding female plant or from juvenile tissue of seedlings (2 females and 2 hermaphrodites) was compared with seedling controls. All tissue-cultured plants had strong root systems and established more quickly than seedlings. Plants from adult tissue (TCA) had a reduced juvenile phase, as evidenced by increased circumference, lower height of first flower, reduced time to harvest, and higher fruit numbers per metre of stem. Planting date affected node number of first flower for TCA plants but not seedlings. TCA plants had higher yields than seedlings when planted in spring, and this could lead to improved commercial practice. Differences between clones established from juvenile tissue and their respective seedling controls varied and were not consistent with a reduced juvenile phase. Four dwarf off-type plants (<1% of population) originated from a single bud explant.