A Retrospective Analysis of Pawpaw (Asimina Triloba [L.] Dunal)Production Data from 2005-2012

Abstract

This study examined 52 cultivars of pawpaw ( Asimina triloba) grown at three locations in southwestern Ohio, of which 24 fit into previously identified genetic groups based on simple sequence repeat markers, harvested from 2005-2012. The harvest duration ranged from 31 days in 2005 to 74 days in 2010, and most of the fruit was harvested in Sept. A frequency analysis of average FW conducted for all cultivars revealed that average FW was normally distributed. The average FW ranged from 10 g (‘Cullman Late’) to 244 g (‘Davis’), but of the more prolific cultivars the average FW ranged from 72 g (‘Rappahannock’) to 172 g (‘NC-1’). Average FW and total number of fruit collected were negatively correlated ( r= -0.21, p < 0.001). FW was not affected by location. Genetically similar cultivars were compared based on previously identified groupings. Cultivars assigned to the Susquehannaand Overleesegenetic groups had significantly higher average FW and harvest length than other genetic groups. Results of this study expand research on pawpaw production and allow growers to select cultivars with market potential based on factors such as fruit size, yield, and harvest duration.