A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON PLANTING CUCUMBER HYBRIDS BY USING CUTTINGS AND CONVENTIONAL METHOD

Abstract

The experiment was carried out during the two successive seasons of 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 on cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus L.) Hesham hybrid, grown under greenhouse condition. Two types of cuttings, i.e., terminal and basal, were taken from pruning the side shoots of cucumber hybrid to encourage the development of cuttings instead of the expensive seeds of the hybrids. The results indicated that terminal cuttings were superior to the basal cuttings for obtaining the highest values of survival percentage, root length, fresh and dry weight of the produced seedlings. To have a full understanding about the vegetative growth habits of cutting culture and their total yield in comparison to those of conventional plants (seed sowing), both types of seedlings produced from cuttings (terminal and basal) and seed propagation were planted at the same time in a greenhouse. The results summarized that conventional plant method produced plants characterized with longest shoots and more leaf chlorophyll content, bigger leaf area, greater fresh and dry weight of plant and at the same time produced higher early and total yield than those derived from cutting propagation. Economical comparison study was done to evaluate the cost price of seedlings and total yield obtained by cutting propagation and those obtained by conventional plants, the differences were calculated in terms of money according to the price of the market. Cutting techniques led to a reduction in the cost price of hybrid seedling production and increased the total income. It can be said that the asexual propagation by terminal cuttings is more economic and may be considered the best way to stop the increasing costs of hybrid seeds year after year and a best present procedure to replace the traditional nursery methods.