Composition of Papaya Fruit and Papaya Cultivars

Abstract Papaya is an economically important fruit that is extensively cultivated and marketed worldwide. Papaya, being a nutritious fruit, is relished for its pleasant flavor, mouthfeel, and texture. Apart from the benefits of nutrition, the fruit is recognized to possess high therapeutic value also. Depending on the region, papaya is consumed in ripe, semi-ripe, or unripe/raw form. In addition, various processed food products made from papaya fruit are also popular. In this chapter, we have emphasized and covered various topics relating to the history of cultivation, botanical aspects, influence of growing conditions and maturity, variations in the biochemical and nutritional composition, as well as bioactive compounds in different cultivars or varieties of papaya. Some insights into the safe storage of papaya as well as topics for future study are also provided.