Evaluation of the growth tax of papaya fruits (Carica papaya L.) in function of different times of the year and accumulated degree-days

The monitoring of the vegetable organ development, as the fruit, is a great scientific interest. The knowledge of the different phases of growth of these fruits can indicate the critical points of nutritional requirements and water, and its relation with climatic factors effect, as the temperature. The aim of this work was to evaluate the growth rate of the hybrid papaya fruit UENF/ CALIMAN 01 at different times of the year, in function of the number of degree-day (DD) accumulated. The fruits had reached the harvest point Varying in accordance to the different times of development throughout the year. Fruits developed in periods with high temperatures had in smaller time its point of harvest, and it was inverse in fruits developed in colder periods. However, when reaching around 800 DD after anthesis, the fruits had tended to stabilize its growth invariably. After this growth period, the maturation process was as fast as the monthly temperature of the period is bigger.