A Review of Omics Technologies and Bioinformatics to Accelerate Improvement of Papaya Traits

Papaya (<i>Carica papaya</i>) is an economically important fruit crop that is mostly planted in tropical and subtropical regions. Major diseases of papaya, such as the papaya dieback disease (PDD), papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) disease, and papaya sticky disease (PSD), have caused large y...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Rabiatul-Adawiah Zainal-Abidin, Insyirah-Hannah Ruhaizat-Ooi, Sarahani Harun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-07-01
Series:Agronomy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/7/1356
Description
Summary:Papaya (<i>Carica papaya</i>) is an economically important fruit crop that is mostly planted in tropical and subtropical regions. Major diseases of papaya, such as the papaya dieback disease (PDD), papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) disease, and papaya sticky disease (PSD), have caused large yield and economic losses in papaya-producing countries worldwide. Postharvest losses have also contributed to the decline in papaya production. Hence, there is an urgent need to secure the production of papaya for a growing world population. Integration of omics resources in crop breeding is anticipated in order to facilitate better-designed crops in the breeding programme. In papaya research, the application of omics and bioinformatics approaches are gradually increased and are underway. Hence, this review focuses on addressing omics technologies and bioinformatics that are used in papaya research. To date, four traits of the papaya have been studied using omics and bioinformatics approaches, which include its ripening process, abiotic stress, disease resistance, and fruit quality (i.e., sweetness, fruit shape, and fruit size). This review also highlights the potential of genetics and genomics data, as well as the systems biology approach that can be applied in a papaya-breeding programme in the near future.
ISSN:2073-4395