Abstract
Selected application programs of two organic biostimulants were tested to determine their effects on papaya (Carica papaya L.) yield. Acetylthioproline (AP) (0 and 0.25 g;L[sup-]) and a commercial complex of peptides and free amino acids (APC) (0 and 3.0 g·L[sup-]) were sprayed on the papaya canopy at different frequencies and intervals: (1) one day after flowering (DAF), (2) 1, 90, and 180 DAF, (3) 1, 60, 120, and 180 DAF, (4) 1, 45, 90, 135, and 180 DAF, and (5) 1, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 DAF. Papaya fruit yield tended to increase when biostimulants were applied more frequently. One application of AP or APC did not significantly increase papaya yield as compared to control plants. When AP and APC were sprayed at 1, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 DAF, yield increased 18 and 22%, respectively, as compared to papaya without biostimulant application.
