Vol. 9, Special Issue 9, Part N (2025)

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is an economically important tropical fruit crop valued for its nutritional, medicinal, and industrial significance. However, seed germination in papaya is often slow and erratic due to seed coat-imposed dormancy, physiological barriers, and environmental constraints. Gibberellic acid (GA₃), a widely used plant growth regulator, has shown significant potential in enhancing germination speed, uniformity, and seedling vigor by breaking dormancy and stimulating metabolic activity. Similarly, growing media composition ranging from soil-based substrates to organic amendments such as farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost, and cocopeat plays a crucial role in determining seedling establishment and growth performance. This review consolidates findings from national and international studies on the effects of GA₃ concentrations, treatment durations, and various growing media on papaya seed germination and seedling development. The paper discusses the interaction between GA₃ and substrate type, physiological and biochemical changes during germination, and growth parameters such as shoot height, root length, and vigor index. Research gaps are highlighted, particularly regarding optimum GA₃-media combinations under region-specific conditions, biochemical marker studies, and long-term seedling survival. The synthesis aims to provide a comprehensive reference for researchers, nursery managers, and growers to enhance papaya seedling production efficiency.