How to make male papaya tree bear fruit

Papaya [Carica papaya] plants or trees may be categorized to male, female or hermaphrodite trees based on type of flowers they produce. As indicated above depending on the tree's type or gender, the flowers and fruit (if found) vary in appearance, function and size. Typically, a papaya plant’s gender may change depending on the temperature during the developmental stages.

Papaya Trees – Male type

Male papaya trees’ flowers are clusters of thin tube like flowers that grow at the distal end of long stalks. In male flowers both male organ [stamen] and pistil [female organ] are present in the flowers.

In male plant flowers female organ pistil won’t function and fruits cannot be produced by the tree. Sometimes the papaya tree temporarily changes gender when temperatures rise in growing environment usually in high summers. Here the pistil may become functional and a male tree turns to hermaphrodite the tree can now be able to pollinate and produce fruit.

Papaya Trees – Female type

Female papaya trees flowers grow in small clusters or as single flowers and usually bigger than male flowers on shorter stalks. The pistil on pollination produces fruit even though the male organ stamen is not present. Fruit from pollinated flower may be green-skinned melon-type fruit with 6-15 inches long with yellow or orange flesh and black seeds. The Female type trees may produce seedless fruit when pollination has not happened.

Papaya Trees –Hermaphrodite type

Hermaphrodite tree type papaya plant produces flowers with a stamen and pistil, the male and female organs in single flower. Hermaphrodite trees have capacity to produce fruits without pollination. Hermaphrodite papaya trees may behave as male trees during hot weather and as female trees when timed or trained.

Possible Causes of Flower Drop

1. Temperature and relative humidity [RH] the environmental temperature and RH especially micro climate near and around flowers must be in range of 200C to 330C and 70 % to 85 % respectively. Lesser and higher than the range affects the pollination, fertilization of papaya fruits and flowers may drop off with forming to the fruit. Chemical growth regulators can sometimes help overcome low temperature effect but the fruit developed will be seedless or may be of poor quality
2. Cultural  - lack or excess of nitrogen [N] fertility. Low and high dose of nitrogen may cause flower drop. The toxicity may be the direct effect for flower abortion. Ammoniacal nitrogen at even medium level has got indirect effect on flower setting and fruit setting. Indirectly ammoniacal nitrogen triggers the regular viral infections which may also result in flower dropping. Manganese micro-nutrient spray on high nitrogen doses may manage viral infections on papaya plants.
3. Lack of water and excessive moisture may affect the flower development, pollination, fertilization and fruit setting. Uneven water supply to the papaya plants/ trees induces stress leading to uneven flowering and fruit setting.
4. Reduced or extended light exposure has adverse effect and may affect the flower development, pollination, fertilization and fruit setting.
5. Excessive wind naturally causes physical damage and pollens to swipe off leading to poor pollination and fertilization.
6. Insect damage particularly by the flower feeders, fruit feeders and probably by chewing type insects will affect the flower health.

1. Foliar diseases Fungal infections like Powdery mildew, Downy mildew, Black spot; bacterial infections like bacterial spot, speck disease and viral infections like Papaya Ring spot infections, Curl leaf viral infections  

1. Nutrient deficiency especially with micronutrients like Boron and Calcium in case of sandy and light soils with poor water and nutrient holding capacities.

Temperature and Relative Humidity factors are usually out of the grower’s control.  A light exposure of the trees is also beyond practically supplying. Sometimes the only thing a grower can wait for favorable weather conditions and by regulating the irrigation practices at extreme conditions may help regulate the micro climatical conditions. To protect the papaya plants form high winds the physical wind barriers may be made all along the borders without affecting the required air to pass.

The controllable things possible practically, the disease and pest management may be monitored for avoiding the flower drop and get maximum yield. Proper balanced nutrient management may also help to get good flower health and better fruit setting in papaya crop.

Check out for moisture in soil and atmosphere; temperature extremities and also go for the two sprays to keep away the diseases [Powdery, Downy, Spot diseases, Bacterial diseases..etc] and also supplement the required nutrients for proper flower and fruit setting.

Combination 1

Blitox 2 gm/L + Plantomycin 0.5gm/L + Magnum Mn 0.5 gm/L + V Zyme- 2 mL/L + Raccolto Spraywell 1 mL/L

Combination 2

Ridomet 0.5 gm/L + Confidor 0.5 mL/L + Boron 20% 1 gm/L + Econeem plus 1% 1 mL/L

Combination 3

Avtar 2 gm/L + Anant 0.5 gm/L + Ahaar 2 mL/L + Econeem plus 1% 1 mL/L

Above sprays may be sprayed for the control of flower dropping or abortion. The combinations will control sucking pests like thrips, aphids; powdery, downy mildew and other fungal & Bacterial diseases; also supplement some essential nutrients for better flower initiation and fruit setting and avoid flower or fruit droppings.

K SANJEEVA REDDY,

Senior Agronomist, BigHaat.

Disclaimer: The performance of the product(s) is subject to usage as per manufacturer guidelines. Read enclosed leaflet of the product(s) carefully before use. The use of this product(s) /information is at the discretion of user.

By Karen Clark Updated November 28, 2018

Papaya trees (Carica papaya) are broadleaf evergreens native to South America that produce fragrant creamy white to yellowish-orange flowers. The trees grow to 30 feet tall and are best suited to the bright sunshine of U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 to 12. Associated with tropical locales and recognized for their exotic fruit, which sometimes grows to 20 pounds in the wild, papaya trees possess the notable feature of growing as male, female or hermaphrodite. Depending on the tree's gender, the flowers and fruit (if any) vary in appearance, function and size. Additionally, a papaya tree’s gender may change depending on the temperature.

Male papaya trees can be identified by clusters of thin tubular flowers that grow at the end of branching stalks 5 to 6 feet long. Both a stamen, or male organ, and pistil, the female organ, are present in the flowers. However, the pistil isn’t functional, and the tree cannot produce fruit. The tree may change gender temporarily if temperatures rise, typically at the height of summer. At this time, a male tree may become a hermaphrodite with a functional pistil. In this case, the tree can now be pollinated and produce fruit. It is also possible for trees to produce male flowers on short stalks at times, or for the papaya to change to female after the top of the plant is cut off, or "beheaded."

Flowers on female papaya trees grow in small clusters or as solitary blooms that are larger than male flowers, but on shorter stalks. They do not possess stamens and can produce fruit if pollinated. The green-skinned melon-type fruit is typically 6 to 8 inches long with yellow or orange flesh and black seeds. If female papayas aren’t pollinated, the trees may produce seedless fruit. Hermaphroditic papaya flowers have both a stamen and pistil, the male and female organs. Such trees are capable of producing fruit and don't require pollination. However, like male papayas, they are susceptible to changing gender. They may switch to being male during hot weather, or to female after beheading.

Hermaphroditic or pollinated female papaya trees will produce fruit throughout the year. They require full sun to thrive as producers, but will tolerate some shade if grown only as ornamentals. Because these trees may reach 20 feet in height, with a spread of 15 feet, it’s best to plant papayas where they won’t be crowded, unless you intend to prune to control size. Papaya trees require little care once established – as long as they have moist, well-drained soil, rich in humus, and protection from frost. They can be grown in containers and brought indoors during cold snaps if placed in a sunny location.