AKARSANA KUMAR S11132245

University of the South Pacific- Plant Physiology

TEMPERTAURE INCREMENT EFFECT ON PAPAYA PRRODUCTION

1.0 Introduction
According to an earlier study (Donald and Juan, 2010), climate change refers to a broad range
“

of global phenomena created predominantly by natural forces and mostly from burning of fossil
fuels, which in turn reckons heat trapping gases into the Earth’s atmosphere. These
phenomenal changes includes increased temperature trends described by global warming, but
also encompass changes such as sea level rise, ice melting, shifts in flower/ plant blooming and
extreme weather events. Climate change severely affects agriculture, in developing countries
like Fiji. One of the affected fruit is papaya, grown in tropical climate also known as pawpaw is a
small, bushy tree with a hollow trunk, large palmate leaves, and oblong smooth-skinned fruits.
While in small scale, the papaya industry is starting to progressively play a significant role in Fiji’s
economy. The nutrients found in papaya have diverse health benefits, hence used for medicinal
purposes, hair treatment, added to diets, but also comes with risks and negative effects. Sudden
rise in temperature during seasons affects the amount of rainfall which causes serious damage
to growth of the crops. In addition, article by Hatfield et al. (2011) summarizes that elevation in
temperature increases the rate of phenological development, leading to smaller plant and
reduced productivity as a result of shortened growth cycle. The issue of climate change and
food security are top concerns, hence the need for limiting climate change to cease increase in
temperature, and for agricultural sector to adapt to climate change to maximize papaya
production. ”

2.1 Importance of Papaya

Moreover, stated in research done by FAO that while papaya farming has traditionally been
considered a gardeners activity in Fiji, it is now emerging as an important export commodity
offering the opportunity for sustainable income and employment in rural areas. Papayas’
previously being an exotic and rare fruit is now available at most times of the year and are soft,
flesh fruit that can be used in a variety of culinary ways. Their sweet taste, vibrant color, and
wide variety of health benefits they provide make them popular fruit. The possible health
benefits of consuming pawpaw includes a reduced risks of heart disease, diabetes, cancer,
aiding in digestion, improving blood glucose control in diabetic people, lowering blood pressure
and improving wound healing. Globally, papaya is used as source of food for both humans and
livestock. The green fruit is the source of enzyme papain, which is used commercially as meat
tenderizers. Papaya is also considered good for hair as it contains vitamin A, a nutrient
necessary for sebum production, which keeps hair moisturized. Vitamin C is also provided by
papaya, which is required for construction and maintenance of collagen, which furnishes the
structure of skin used in cosmetics. Consumption of adequate amount of unripe pawpaw leads
to abortion in pregnant women. Therefore it is used as a treatment for abortion in countries like
India, where fresh latex is applied on uterus to cause abortion.

2.2 Effect of Climate Change on Papaya Growth and Production

Plants are very prone to various stress conditions due to changes in global climatic changes.
“

Parry (1990) argues that conditions like higher temperatures could increase the rate of microbial
decomposition of organic matter, adversely affecting soil fertility in the long run. Also,
temperature increase may extend geographic range of some insect pests currently limited by
temperature. In contrast, S. A. Brown & Jones (2011), conversely states that increase in
temperature and carbondioxide can increased crop yields depending on the geographic location
of the crop. In order to realize these benefits, nutrient levels, soil moisture, water availability
and other conditions should be met. Climate change leads to dropping of fruits, extreme stress
can lead to flower abscission therefore preventing fruit formation. Plants tend to have stunted
growth rates and increased growing seasons when under stress. Drought conditions and
extreme weather events can lead to increased risks of soil erosion. ”

2.3 Effect of Increased Temperature on Papaya Growth and Productivity

Furthermore, Wheeler. P. C., (2009) revealed that the temperature of the earth increased about
8 ⁰C from 1880 to 2013. Growth rate of a papaya plant is dependent on surrounding
temperature. Physiochemical processes are affected with rise in temperature, soil moisture
content, uptake of nutrients from soil, consequently reducing plant growth and development.
Late flowering, affected pollination, sterility, and low production rate of papaya plants tends to
increase with increasing temperatures. As stated by Hatfield and Prueger (2015), exposure of
papaya plant to elevated temperature limits the fruit production ability of the plant as a
consequence of disturbed pollination. Higher temperatures affect the rate of photosynthesis by
affecting the rhythm of photosynthetic enzymes, electron transport chain, and transpiration
rates. The root, shoot and leaf development is also adversely affected by increased
temperatures (Sage et al. 2008). Elevation in surrounding temperature also initiated increased
photorespiration rates and affects rate of photosynthesis.
2.4 Plant Adaptation toward Stress Conditions
Additionally, a recent article in Agronomy Journal of Nepal discusses ways to cope up with
“

changing climatic conditions. Papaya plants are known to adapt themselves by mechanisms like
transpiration, photosynthesis and photorespiration. One of the simple mechanisms includes
closing of the stomata to slow down water loss from transpiration when temperature is
increases. This happens because of direct evaporation of water from guard cells without any
metabolic activity. Stress factors like increased temperature causes deterioration of enzyme
RUBISCO, lowering the rate of photosynthesis. High temperature causes water scarcity, which
resulting in closing of the stomata to conserve water loss; normal gas exchange restricts and
levels of CO2 increases. In order to cope up with these situations, photorespiration increases
and efficiency of photosynthesis decreases, this causes a reduction in plant growth. High
temperature plays a significant role in the rolling of leaf which maintains the adaptation by
increasing water metabolism efficiency (Sarieva et al. 2010). All things considered, crop
management practices such as cultivars, method of irrigation, proper sowing techniques can
avoid high temperature stress. Proper management and genetic alterations to crop can further
enhance its growing productivity while the temperature continues to rise.“

3.1 Future Implications on Crop Production

Conclusively, climate change has an adverse effect on papaya production when it come to
increased atmospheric temperatures, while increase in carbondioxide increase yield in some of
the polar region countries. Exposure of plants to continual high temperatures during growth
cycle increases the rate of phonological development but does not lead to a smaller plant
because of the seasonal patterns of temperature change. With a drop in papaya production
with climate change, flexibility found in the development of plant in response to climate change
will be critical in maintaining ecosystem function and agricultural productivity in the future.
Challenges should be addressed together through climate change adaptation, sustainable
management of natural resources and making efforts to increase resilience of fruit to climate
change. Crop and land management practices that maximize sustainable productivity should be
reinforced, systemic evaluation of genetic resources to better target their issues in fruit
improvement, genetic introduction of most resilient varieties and monitoring and modeling the
spread of diseases and pests in response to climate change should be oriented to increase food
production. Current practices are able to satisfy the fruit demand under climate change
scenarios, but the questions remain whether the future demands will be continued to be met?
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Donald L. Smith & Juan J. Almaraz. (2010). Climate change and crop production:
contributions, impacts, and adaptations. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology. 26(3).
253-266.
- Hatfield, Boote. K. J, Kimball. B. A, Ziska. L.H, Izaurralde. R. C, Ort. D, Thomson. A. M,
Wolfe. D. (2011). Climate impacts on agriculture: implications for crop production. 103.
351–370
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). (2005). Available at:
http://faostat.fao.org (accessed 4 May, 2018)
- M. Parry. (1990). Climate change and world agriculture. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 7(3).
372.
- S. A. Brown., Jones. (2011). The impact of climate change on agriculture in developing
countries. Journal of Natural Resources, 1(1). 5-19
- Hatfield, Prueger. J. H. (2015). Effect on plant growth and development: Weather Climate
Extremes. Journal of Temperature extremes, 10:4–10
- Wheeler, P. L. (2009). Climate change and the effect on plant growth. Journal of Plant
Botany, 60(9). 2529-2539.
- Sage, Way. D.A, Kubien. D. S. (2008). Rubisco, Rubisco activase, and global climate
change. Journal of Plant Adaptations to Climate Change, 59(7). 1581–1595.
- Geoffrey. R. D. (2012). Climate change- impact on crop growth and food production.
Agronomy Journal of Nepal, 34(3). 362-379.
- Sarieva. G. E, Kenzhebaeva. S.S, Lichtenthaler. H. K. (2010). Adaptation potential of
photosynthesis in wheat cultivars with a capability of leaf rolling under high temperature
conditions. Journal of Plant Physiology, 57:28–36