Characteristics of flower and fruit development of multi-pistillate type cucumbers

Abstract

SummaryFruit development was compared among three cucumber cultivars, i.e., single pistillate type 'Aofushinari' (monoecious), multi-pistillate type '028' (monoecious) and plural pistillate type 'NK AN8' (gynoecious), to examine the possibility that large numbers of fruits can be harvested from cultivars bearing many flowers within a short period. Two experiments were conducted, pinching apical buds at node 18 in Exp.l and allowing apical buds to grow in Exp.2. In both experiments, total leaf area was greater in 'Aofushinari' than the other cultivars. The number of pistillate flowers in '028' and 'NK AN8' was double that in 'Aofushinari'. The number of fruits harvested during c 30 d per plant was larger in '028' and 'NK AN8' than in 'Aofushinari', especially when apical buds were allowed to grow without pinching. However, the rates of fruit abortion per flower were higher in '028' and 'NK AN8' than in 'Aofushinari', especially in the middle part of vines (nodes 8-12). Anthesis progressed from the bottom to the top of the main vines in all cultivars. Most fruits in ' Aofushinari' were harvested about 20 d after anthesis except for fruits on the lower part of vines (nodes 4-7). On the other hand, fruits on the middle part of vines attained commercial size about 30 d or more after anthesis in '028' and 'NK AN8', whereas fruits above node 13 required 8-25 days to reach commercial size. As a result, many fruits reached commercial size at the same time in '028' and 'NK AN8'. These results suggest that high yields can be obtained by cultivating multi-pistillate type cucumbers.