The Philippines may be able to put in the market by 2011-2012 the genetically modified (GM) delayed ripening papaya that doubles with a ring spot virus (RSV)-resistant trait even as private firms like East West Seed Co. have been inquiring on the commercial readiness of the tropical fruit.

The delayed ripening and RSV-resistant papaya just needs to undergo at least one field trial which will take one season or one year’s planting before it is finally put into the market, according to Dr. Evelyn Mae Tecson-Mendoza, project leader at the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB).

"We already have a hybrid of the delayed ripening and RSV(resistant) papaya. It's now in the screenhouse, and we have a request with DA (Department of Agriculture) for its field trial," said Mendoza in an interview during the opening of the GM detection facility of the Bureau of Plant Industry. IPB has so far established the stability of the delayed ripening and RSV-resistance traits in this transgenic papaya since it is now on the planting of the fourth generation of the transgenic crop, and yet it still observes the desired trait in the fruit.

The delayed-ripening trait is enabling the fruit to stretch its shelf life. Papaya normally ripens within just around four days from the time it turns yellow. But with the delayed ripening trait, ripening can extend to as much as 14 days which makes the fruit still highly-marketable after two weeks from the yellowing stage. This will be particularly useful for exporters who need to maintain quality of the commodity while on shipment.