CO2 Assimilation Rate in Production Systems for Papaya Crops

The aim of this study was to evaluate some physiological aspects of papaya crops in semi conventional and organic production systems. The following factors assessed in this experiment were: 1. Production systems (organic and semi conventional); 2. Genotypes (Maradol and Maradona F1), and 3. Cover crop plants (Canavalia, vegetative cover and no cover). Twelve treatments were obtained -product of factors' combination- and distributed under a three-repetition experimental design of subdivided parcels. The factors examined in this study, that changed the CO2 assimilation rate, were production system and genotype. It was determined that the greatest gas exchange in papaya crops happened at 13:40 h but achieving the highest CO2 assimilation was also affected by the production system and genotype. Similarly, they showed some effects in CO2 assimilation, transpiration, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2, leaf temperature, chlorophyll, and temperature. In general, the combination of factors that accentuated in this experiment were the semi conventional-Maradona-Canavalia with a crop yield of 53.5 t ha(-1), followed by treatments organic-Maradona-no cover and semi conventional-Maradona-vegetative cover.