爲選育耐木瓜輪點毒素病之品系供育種材料,以挽救本省木瓜生產事業。自六十八年開始搜集國內外木瓜品系,並至嚴重病區選取健株種子,以觀察各品系間自然發病情形,以檢定其抗(耐)病性。二年來共檢定五十三品系,未發現完全抗病之品系,但各品系間發病率及病徵顯有差異;由田間自然發病之結果,以哥斯達黎加紅肉種發病最慢,定植十三個月後發病率爲73.3%,而巴拿馬紅肉1-2-5及74-9×T定植七個月後發病率即高達100%。由病徵之顯現情形觀之,以FL-77-5病徵最輕,顯示耐病性強,惜因其僅雌性與雄性株而無兩性株,所結之果實腔溝甚深,去種子不易,而哥斯達黎加紅肉品質欠佳。二者可爲今後抗(耐)病育種之材料。
Papaya ringspot virus (PRV) is the most serious disease to papaya production in Taiwan in recent years. This experiment was carried out to select tolerant varieties for breeding purpose. None of the 53 varieties or lines collected from domestic and foreign countries was resistant to PRV, but a differential degree of tolerance was found among these varieties. Tolerant plants exhibited very mild symptoms. They could grow well and bear fruits despite infection. F1-77-5 and Costa Rica were two promising tolerant varieties. The former is dioecious with fruit cavity deeply indented and the fruits of Costa Rica are poor in quality. They have no economical value for extension but are excellant breeding materials.