Correct option is B
The correct answer is: (B) Seeds
Papaya (Carica papaya) is commercially propagated by seeds due to its fast growth, ease of germination, and cost-effectiveness. Since papaya is a herbaceous plant, it does not respond well to vegetative propagation methods like grafting or budding.
Papaya seeds are extracted from fully ripe fruits, cleaned, dried, and then sown in nurseries or directly in fields. The seedlings are later transplanted to the main field.
However, vegetative propagation methods like grafting and budding are sometimes used for clonal propagation in research or for maintaining specific genetic traits, but they are not widely used in commercial farming.
Information Booster:
Most common and economical method for large-scale papaya cultivation.
Seeds are collected from ripe fruits, washed, and dried before sowing.
Seed propagation ensures genetic variability, which can sometimes result in different fruit quality.
Hybrid papaya varieties (e.g., Red Lady, Coorg Honey Dew) are also propagated using seeds.
Seed germination takes around 2-3 weeks, and plants start fruiting within 8-10 months.
Knowledge Booster (Other Options):
(A) Softwood Cutting: Used for woody plants and shrubs, as it lacks proper cambium tissue for rooting.
(C) Patch Budding: Commonly used for fruit trees like citrus and guava.
(D) Grafting: Used in mango, apple, and citrus.
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