Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, has developed and released a highly successful series of papaya (Carica papaya) varieties designated as the "CO" series.
These varieties were developed through systematic selection or hybridization of local and exotic germplasm.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us trace the parentage of the Coimbatore (CO) papaya series:
- 'CO-1': It was developed as a pure-line selection from the famous introduced variety 'Washington'.
It is a dioecious, dwarf variety with round-to-oval fruits, yellow flesh, and excellent eating quality, lacking the strong papaya odor.
- 'CO-3': It is a gynodioecious hybrid developed by crossing 'CO-2' $\times$ 'Sunrise Solo'.
- 'CO-5': It is a selection from 'Washington' but selected specifically for high papain yield (noted as a high papain-yielding variety), though 'CO-1' is the classic, primary selection from 'Washington' released for table purposes.
- 'CO-7': It is a gynodioecious hybrid developed from a multiple cross involving 'CP-75', 'Coorg Honey Dew', and 'Sunrise Solo'.
Therefore, CO-1 is the classic selection from the variety 'Washington'.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The Coimbatore series of papaya developed as a selection from 'Washington' is Co-1.