I have a 2.5 months old papaya growing in a pot on my roof.
It started flowering a few weeks ago, most flowers were male, but now i see one batch of hermaphrodite flowers!
The problem is the bottom leaves have all withered and died, and now the top leaves are withering. flowers also wither quite fast after blossoming.
I did not move the plant recently, i water it only when dry, and dont use any fertilizers.
I live in Tel Aviv so it is very hot and humid these days (round 85 degrees and 80% humidity)

So my biggest question is what could be the problem, and how to cure it?

Also, Id like to know is this a bad time for replanting in to a bigger pot? Because it seems to grow much slower than its siblings and I want to give it more room to grow... and last question, according to the photos is this really a hermaphrodite plant that will bear fruit?

(added are photos of the whole plant, the roots, a dying leaf and the hermaphrodite flower)

It's normal for the lower leaves to drop off as the plant makes new leaves up top. You've done well with it, so far BUT If you look at the bottom of the root ball, I think you will see the problem. Papayas put down a long tap root. Because of that, they very seldom succeed in pots. They want to grow out the bottom of the pot, see how most of the roots are way down there at the lower soil level?

A plastic food-grade barrel, something like people use for rain barrels, but with drainage holes in the bottom, is about what you need to grow a papaya for any length of time. The tap roots on some of mine have gone down at least 3ft. Of course, here a papaya will go from a baby to 9ft. tall with a dozen or more fruit on it in one season. In the ground, with tons of fert and water of course.

All I can advise, if you can't manage a bigger, deep planter, is lift it out of the pot, fill the bottom space of the pot with as much soil as you can, and put it back in. Looks like you have room for at least 3in, more soil in that pot or get a larger, much deeper pot. Still not a long-term solution, but at least you might get some fruit this fall before it gives up entirely. If you can get a bigger container, try to choose a light colored one, also, or paint it white if you can to keep the roots cooler when the sun shines on the side of the pot.

May I ask where you are? I see writing on your water tower in the pictures that I don't recognize. (just wondering for climate info)

Thanks Elaine for your reply

I live in Tel Aviv, Its very warm and very humid here right now (round 85 degrees and 80% humidity)
Today 3 more big leaves died, it all happened so quickly, so I cut off all the dead leaves and also most of the flowers so they wont take too much energy, and moved him to recuperate in a porch that only receives few hours of direct sunlight each day.
So I will wait for it to get better and only then replant. If there is anything else you think I could do please advise.
Ill add again that the leaves are turning completely brown and soft literally overnight, and they get brown all over, not just the edges. Starting from the bottom leaves and going up....

Honestly, I don't think it's going to get better until you give it a bigger pot. It needs more room to grow roots. The old leaves dropping off from the bottom is normal. As long as it's making new leaves from the top, it is ok. But I'll bet the new leaves are getting smaller, yes?

Moving to less sunlight may help short term, but they need sun to grow and fruit. If you do re-pot it, keep it there for a week or two, then gradually move it out to the sun again.

A BIG, HUGE pot is what it needs. Stat!