Abstract

Studies were made on the biochemical substances of papaya, in two varieties (CO 5 and SRS) at three stages of crop growth in eight different seed groups. It was found that the leaf protein content was higher in the black and bold seeds; and also in the males followed by hermaphrodites and low in females. Phenol content was lower in females than males and hermaphrodites. The reverse was true with RNA and DNA contents. IAA oxidase activity was higher in the leaves of male papaya followed by the hermaphrodites and the lower in females. The females had more cytokinin and lower GA than the males and hermaphrodites.

Keywords: Papaya, seed groups, sex expression, biochemical constituents