Comparative study on the phenology, gender and yield components of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) varieties

The intensity of sex expression is important in crops, including cucumber, since sex form and flowering have direct effects on date of harvesting and yield. Two groups of cucumber comprising a native variety (Odukpani) and elite varieties (Griffaton, Poinsett, Ashley, Marketmore and Monarch) were evaluated in 2015 and 2016 cropping seasons at the Teaching and Research Farm, College of Agriculture, Garkawa, Plateau State; to assess flowering, sex expression and some yield traits. The experimental design was randomized complete block design with the 6 cucumber varieties as the treatments, replicated five times. The two groups differed significantly (p < 0.05) in phonological, flowering and yield traits assessed. The elite varieties were superior with respect to flowering traits, as they flowered early. The intra-population hierarchical cluster analysis of quantitative traits grouped the elite varieties in one main cluster and the native variety (Odukpani) alienated as an outlier. The cluster plots showed that Odukpani was robust in vegetative growth, produced few but larger fruit size and flowering was delayed for over two weeks. Conversely, the elite varieties flowered early, produced more flowers and recorded superior number of fruits per plant. The profuse production of pistillate flowers by the elite varieties had pronounced yield advantage over the local variety. Hybridization between the two groups of cucumber would make a mark in the drive for sustainable cucumber fruit yield.

Horticultural Study on Cucumber Cultivation; Pest and Disease Control from Traditional Approach

The aims of the study to know Horticultural Study on Cucumber Cultivation; Pest and Disease Control from Traditional Approach. Cucumber offers several health advantages, including a high concentration of Vitamin A, anti-cancer properties, the ability to absorb pollutants, and the ability to provide energy. cucumber is high in provitamin A, which helps to preserve eye health by acting as an antioxidant. It also helps to prevent damage to body cells that leads to premature aging by acting naturally. cucumber fruit has been shown to be effective in reducing the development of intestinal cancer.

QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF CUCUMBER FRUIT RESULTED FROM VARIOUS METHODS OF POLLINATION

[Kuantitas dan kualitas buah mentimun dari berbagai metode penyerbukan]. Metode penyerbukan mentimun yang berbeda dapat menyebabkan efektivitas yang berbeda dalam pembentukan buah dan, pada gilirannya, menentukan hasil akhir dan kualitas buah. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk membandingkan pengaruh penyerbukan oleh lebah T. laeviceps dan serangga penyerbuk lainnya terhadap produksi tanaman mentimun. Perlakuan yang dilakukan yaitu penyerbukan terbuka dengan bantuan T. laeviceps dan serangga penyerbuk liar, penyerbukan dengan bantuan manusia, dan penyerbukan oleh angin. Indikator yang diamati meliputi kuantitas dan kualitas hasil panen termasuk umur simpan buah. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa penyerbukan terbuka dapat meningkatkan persentase pembentukan buah, kenormalan, panjang, diameter, berat, dan jumlah biji. Namun, pada penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa penyerbukan tidak mempengaruhi umur simpan buah mentimun.

Effects of Coating by Chitosan, TiO2 Nanoparticles, and Sodium Tripolyphosphate as Crosslinker on Stored Cucumber Fruits

Cucumber fruit contains essential nutrients and fibers and is used widely in salads dressing. Scarce research is available on its storage with nanoparticles and chitosan combined effects. Hence, the objective of this current research was to evaluate some Physico-chemical properties and microbial activity after coating with the combination of chitosan, TiO2 nanoparticles, and sodium tripolyphosphate to enhance the cucumbers storability and prolong the shelf-life. The cucumbers fruits were divided into four groups and dipped into several coating solutions for 10 minutes such as distilled water (Cu-uncoated), chitosan 1% (Cu-Chitosan), chitosan 1%, titanium dioxide nanoparticles 1% (Cu-Chitosan-TDN), and chitosan 1%, titanium dioxide nanoparticles 1%, sodium tripolyphosphate 2% (Cu-Chitosan-TDN-ST), respectively. The cucumber samples were then air-dried at ambient temperature and chilled to 10 °C for storage and evaluation for every seven days until three weeks. Cu-uncoated had the highest weight loss with a value of 5.15%, followed by Cu-Chitosan 4.11% while Cu-Chitosan-TDN and Cu-Chitosan-TDN-ST reported the least weight loss of (3.43% and 3.01%, respectively) after 7 days of the storage period. The results reported that the firmness of the samples was found to be decreased during the whole storage time except in the treatments Cu-Chitosan-TDN-ST and Cu-Chitosan-TDN in which it was noticed to be better in firmness after 21 days of storage (55.12 N/mm and 50.67 N/mm), respectively. Total soluble solids were lower in the coated cucumbers compared with the uncoated samples. Titratable acidity of Cu-Chitosan-TDN-ST 0.26% treated sample increased more as compared with Cu-Chitosan-TDN 0.24% samples at the end of the storage period. The highest increase in pectin content was recorded for Cu-Chitosan-TDN samples 0.042 g/100 g on the 21st day. Nano-coating with the combination of chitosan declared the dietary fiber content changes rate than in samples with the addition of sodium tripolyphosphate. Besides, the antimicrobial activity of the chitosan/nanofilms has been improved with the addition of sodium tripolyphosphate as crosslinker 3.67 CFU/g on the 21st day of storage. Thus, nano-coating with the combination of sodium tripolyphosphate has proven to be efficient method in extending the shelf-life of cucumber samples.

The Formation of Fruit Quality in Cucumis sativus L.

Cucumber is one of the most widely grown vegetables in China and an indispensable fresh fruit in the diet. With the development of society, the demand of people for cucumber quality is higher and higher. Therefore, cultivating high-quality cucumber varieties is one of the main goals of cucumber breeding. With the rapid development of biotechnology such as molecular marker, cucumber quality control network is becoming clear. In this review, we describe the formation mechanism of cucumber fruit quality from three aspects: (1) the commercial quality of cucumber fruit, (2) nutritional quality formation, and (3) flavor quality of cucumber fruit. In addition, the determinants of cucumber fruit quality were summarized from two aspects of genetic regulation and cultivation methods in order to provide ideas for cucumber researchers and cultivators to improve fruit quality.

Effects of NPK Fertilizer and Vine Care on Soil Chemical Properties and Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Growth and Yield Parameters

Cucumber yield in Nigeria is limited by low soil fertility. Therefore, field fertility and vine care experiments that have ability to moderate yield were conducted in the year 2015 cropping seasons. The experiment was located on farmer’s field at Abeokuta, Ogun State, Southwestern Nigeria to study the effects of NPK fertilizer and vine care on soil chemical properties, leaf nutrient content, growth and yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). It was a 4 x 3 factorial experiment arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates. Four levels of NPK nutrient formulations (control, NPK15-15-15, NPK 20-10-10 and NPKMg 12-12-17-2) and three vine care types (unstaked, staked and trellised) were applied. Pre-experiment soil samples and soils from each plot at the end of the experiment were collected for soil chemical analysis. Leaf nutrient contents were determined. Plant growth and yield data were measured. Data collected were subjected to statistical analysis and the interaction between factors combined separated. NPK fertilizers significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased soil N, P, K, Ca, Mg and leaf P, K, Ca and Mg concentrations, Cucumber fruit yield was increased by NPKMg 12-12-17-2 (90.5%), NPK 15-15-15 (60.4%) and NPK 20-10-10 (30.0%) compared with control. Application of vine care enhanced performance of cucumber, fruit yield was increased by trellised (34.0%) and staked (17.3%) compared with control. Combined application of NPKMg 12-12-17-2 and trellising was found most suitable for cucumber production.