Abstract
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.
Highlights
Cucumber is a popular home garden crop and it is the fourth most cultivated vegetable worldwide (Okonmah, 2011)
Days to 50% flowering followed the same trend as the native Odukpani took longer time (51.5 days) to attain days to 50% flowering compared to the elite varieties (32.5 to 34.5 days) (Table 3)
This finding is consistent with the report of Afangideh and Uyoh (2007) who documented in the rain forest area of Calabar, Nigeria that days to flowering for eleven exotic varieties were shorter compared to those of six indigenous cultivars
Summary
Cucumber is a popular home garden crop and it is the fourth most cultivated vegetable worldwide (Okonmah, 2011). Its juice is often recommended as sources of silicon to improve the health and complexion of the skin (Duke, 1997) It is a good source of vitamin A, C, K, and B6, potassium, pantothenic acids, magnesium, phosphorus, copper and manganese (Vimala et al, 1999). Cucumber is a day neutral annual crop and exhibits a fascinating range of floral morphology, including staminate, pistillate and hermaphrodite flowers which occur in various arrangements (Dalai et al, 2016; Chinatu et al, 2017). According to Dey et al (2005) sex expression of cucumber is determined by genetics as well as environment. According to Dalai et al (2016) optimum doses of growth promoters (GA3 and NAA) reduced the male flower initiation. These substances increased functional female organs and compatibility besides reducing the embryo abortion in plants
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