INITIAL DEVELOPMENT OF PAPAYA VARIETIES WITH BIOLOGICAL INPUTS

Abstract

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is a fruit cultivated in rapidly growing tropical and subtropical regions, with year-round production. The use of microorganisms as growth promoters in fruit crops is a promising strategy to increase productivity. This study aimed to assess the initial development of papaya varieties using biological inputs. A completely randomized design was used in a 2 x 6 factorial scheme, with two papaya varieties (Formosa and Papaya), six treatments, and five replicates. The treatments included: control, Nemax Ultra® (humic substances and Trichoderma sp.); Biomaphos® (Bacillus subtilis and B. megaterium); 0.5% Nemax Ultra® + Biomaphos®; 1% Nemax Ultra® + Biomaphos®; 2% Nemax Ultra® + Biomaphos®. The variables analyzed included the total number of leaves, stem diameter, stem and root length, and above-ground height. Total fresh weight of the above-ground and root parts, as well as dry weight of the above-ground and root parts, were also evaluated. The results showed that the interaction between the varieties and the use of biological inputs significantly influenced plant height, stem length, and root length. Variations observed in the results of fresh weight of the above-ground and root parts, as well as dry weight of the above-ground and root parts, were notably high, making it impractical to present the obtained data. The combined use of biological inputs in papaya seedling production contributes to enhancing the morphological characteristics of the fruit tree.