Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Growth and yield of grafted cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) on different soilless substrates

Author(s):

Nina Kacjan Maršić ^*, Marijana Jakše

Recieved Date: 2010-02-13, Accepted Date: 2010-04-09

Abstract:

Grafting of cucurbits has a role to play, especially in controlled environment vegetable production and many rootstocks have been selected to improve resistance to different stressed conditions, such as low soil temperature, lacking of minerals, as well as soil salinity and flooding. In greenhouse soilless culture is the most intensive and effective form of cultivation, which offers significant advantages, such as elimination of soil-born diseases and enabling the successful cultivation of vegetables on unproductive degraded soil. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of different soilless substrates (perlite and expanded clay pellets) on yield and development of grafted and nongrafted cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) in summer 2006, and in summer 2007, to evaluate the effect of 3 rootstocks on growth and yield of cucumber, grown in perlite. Both years hybrid cultivar of salad cucumber Edona was used as a scion and 3 interspecific hybrids (Cucurbita maxima Duchesne ex Lam. × Cucurbita moschata Duchesne ex Poir.): RS 841 (both years), Cirrus and Nimbus (in 2007), were used as rootstocks. In the first experiment, growth of cucumbers was significantly better in perlite than in expanded clay pellets, where the marketable yield was in average for 30% higher (7.9 kg plant^-1 in perlite; 6.1 kg plant^-1 in clay pellets). Grafted plants had a larger stem diameter, bigger root system and higher yield than ungrafted plants. In the second experiment, marketable yield of grafted cucumber plants was significantly higher only with rootstock RS 841 F1 (5.72 kg plant^-1), while yields of plants grafted onto Cirrus F1 (5.00 kg plant^-1) and Nimbus F1 (5.15 kg plant^-1) were higher than the control (ungrafted plants), but the differences were not significant. Grafting did not affect fruit weight neither in the first nor in the second experiment.

Keywords:

Hydroponic cultivation, Cucumis sativus L., grafting, rootstocks, clay pellets, perlite

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2010
Volume: 8
Issue: 2
Category: Agriculture
Pages: 654-658

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