High school students from the Mexican town of Acanceh in the coastal state of Yucatan have developed a new variety of papaya which can be produced year round, among other benefits.

Created by a team of specialists at Mexico's National Institute of Forestry, Agriculture and Fishing (Inifap), the papaya, called BS, is a cross between the Hawaiian variety and a hybrid selection from the state of Tabasco, according to Inifap professor Felipe Santamaría Basulto.

The new fruit is more resistant to the region's hot weather and is tolerant to diseases which stem from mold growth, such as anthracnose.

Such characteristics make the new variety particularly suitable for the state's balmy conditions.

Each plant produces over 30 fruits in the span of seven months.  The first plant produced by the high schoolers measured 2.9 meters towards the end of the harvest.

Up to 2,000 plants can be planted per hectare, ideal for organic growers and household gardens.

The first fruits produced by the team of students are already on the market in neighboring towns and in state capital Mérida.

In conversation with www.freshfruitportal.com, Santamaría explained that seeds for the BS variety were now available for mass production.

"This selection was not developed for markets abroad due to the fact that its shelf life is not as long as other varietes," Santamaría said.

"Its future lies in local household gardens and even organic crops due to the variety's resistance to disease and the fact that its production does not rely on synthetic fungicides."

Outside of Yucatán, the BS selection has also shown positive results in the state of Tabasaco. Production has also begun in Veracruz and Michoacán.

Photo: www.shutterstock.com

www.freshfruitportal.com