The emission of ethylene, respiration and physical and chemical changes of papaya Golden cultivar, and of the hybrids Tainung 01 and UENF/CALIMAN01 (UC01), harvested at 0 maturity stage (mature fruit with 100 % green skin) and stored at 25ºC and 80% RH have been evaluated during the ripening. The results show significant differences between genotypes in all evaluated traits. The 'Golden' papaya had shown respiratory rates and ethylene emission higher than those recorded for the Tainung 01 and UC01, indicating characteristic climacteric. The papaya UC01 has been the one which kept the green color of the skin for longer time and has shown lower firmness of fruit in 0 maturity stage. The results also show the relationship between the respiratory and ethylene peaks, with loss of firmness. There was an increase in soluble solids (SS) in papaya UC 01, not observed in the others. The titratable acidity (TA) and the ratio SS/TA did vary during ripening only in papaya 'Golden'. The results indicate that the three genotypes more commercialized in Brazil differ physiologically and biochemically during ripening, with hybrids Tainung 01 and UC01 being more sensitive to the action of ethylene than the Golden cultivar, which is important to the postharvest management of these fruits.
Carica papaya; emission of ethylene; papaya genotypes; respiration
