In some papaya producing regions in Brazil, it was observed a physiological disturb in the fruits called Skin Freckles (SF). Such disturb may cause significant damages to crops, since it may affect the quality of the fruits. This work aimed to search possible relationship among the SF incidence, the soil water potential, the soluble solid content in the latex, the thermal amplitude and the air vapor pressure deficit. These studies were carried out in a commercial orchard located in the town of São Francisco de Itabapoana - RJ, where some characteristics were monitored including the air vapor pressure deficit, the soil water potential, the soluble solid content in the latex in two faces of the fruit (the face close to the trunk and the opposing face to the trunk) and the air thermal amplitude. One verified that in the months that preceeded the period of higher incidence of the SF, the soil water deficit increased (daily average of -113,6kPa from April to July), in association with smaller air evaporative demands (daily average of 0,6kPa from April to July) and a thermal amplitude average of 11,3ºC in these same periods contributed for the higher incidence of the SF in the months between July and October.
Carica papaya L.; physiological disturb; seasonality
