Director’s Message

As you may or may not be aware, papaya (Carica papaya) is said to have been around some 25 million years go and while, for certain, we did not have a thriving industry in Florida then, we certainly had one during the 20th century. Interest in papaya has been increasing worldwide due to its great nutritional and nutraceutical properties—it is a relatively low-price source of lycopene, b-carotene, polyphyenols, and many vitamins and fibers, all of which are extremely good for you. The United Stated is a major importer of this fruit, importing more than 175,000 tons annually at a value that is close to $120 million. Within the continental United States, papaya can be grown year-round in South Florida (specifically Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties), where the region’s subtropical climate is suitable for the crop. But there are a few challenges which must be overcome if our growers are to be in a position to cash in on this market opportunity. The first challenge is that papaya production and fruit quality are being compromised by the papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) for which no natural resistance is known to exist. The second challenge is that our papaya plantings are only productive for about two years before they must be replanted; an expensive and timeconsuming endeavor making Florida growers less competitive. Both challenges limit the potential for expansion of the industry in the state, robbing our growers of what could be another viable alternative enterprise.

UF/IFAS TREC has worked hard to address these challenges and I am happy to report that our scientists are finalizing the development of a papaya variety that is resistant to the disease, possesses superior fruit quality and yield, and increases the longevity of the plant. The initial research began some years back—to develop a variety resistant to the disease that would do well under local growing conditions—and we are now seeing the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel as all regulatory approvals have been obtained, clearing the way for commercialization. These breakthroughs are what our growers were hoping for. It is our hope that sooner, rather than later, we will once again have a thriving papaya industry in south Florida, adding one more crop that our growers can consider.

Dr. Edward ‘Gilly’ A. Evans

We take this opportunity to acknowledge the researchers who have been involved with this effort including Dr. Michael Davis (retired), Dr. Zhentu Ying (retired), Dr. Jonathan Crane, and Dr. Alan Chambers. We also wish to acknowledge the financial support received from the Florida Department of Agriculture and the University of Florida.