Cloning Major Genes Controlling Fruit Flesh Color in Papaya

Ripe papaya fruit can be either red fleshed or yellow fleshed, which is largely determined by the concentrations of different carotenoid pigments. Higher lycopene content makes the fruit flesh red while higher β-carotene makes it yellow. Papaya flesh color has health implications in that it is indicative of levels of vitamin A and antioxidants. Yellow-fleshed papaya is a good source for vitamin A, while red fleshed has higher antioxidant properties. Papaya fruit flesh color segregates as a qualitative trait following Mendelian ratio with the yellow flesh being dominant over red, indicating that the trait is controlled by a single gene.