Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is a tropical and subtropical crop and is considered to be one of the most important sources of vitamins A and C and the industrially important enzyme papain. The fruit is melon-like The skin is waxy and thin but fairly tough. When the fruit is green and hard it is rich in white latex. As it ripens, it becomes light- or deep-yellow externally and the thick wall of succulent flesh becomes aromatic, yellow, orange or various shades of salmon or red.