Abstract
A study on the effect of ethephon doses on vegetative characters, sex expression and yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus cv. Bhaktapur Local) was conducted in Gulmi, Nepal during 21st April to 24th August 2017. The experiment was laid in single factor Randomized complete Block Design (RCBD) with 4 replication and 5 treatments. Four different doses of ethephon 100, 200, 300 & 400 ppm with control were applied. Two sprays of ethephon was made one at two true leaf stage and other at four true leaf stage. Ethephon was found to reduce the plant height compared to control, minimum (238.8 cm) with 400 ppm and maximum (310.4 cm) with the control. The number of nodes and branches per plant were found to be highest with 300 ppm. Ethephon was found to shift first male flowers and female flowers towards upper and lower nodes respectively. The plot treated with 300 ppm ethephon, bearing 20.31 female flowers per plant was found superior to other doses for increasing total female flowers. Maximum and minimum number of male flowers per plant was recorded with control(107 per plant) and 400 ppm (46.90 per plant) respectively. Similarly, 300 ppm of ethephon was found superior for reducing (male: female) sex ratio. Maximum yield 27.51 t/ha was recorded with 300 ppm and minimum yield of 17.48 t/ha with the control. 57% increment in the yield was observed with 300 ppm ethephon as compared to the control. Thus, proper use of ethephon is found to be beneficial to farmers.
 Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 7(3): 370-377
Highlights
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) (2n=14), belonging to the family Cucurbitaceous, because of its varied usefulness, excellent flavour, texture and medicinal value, is among the most prized vegetable (Sebastian et al, 2010)
Decrease in plant height with increased ethephon concentration and death of all plants was seen at 5000 ppm (Bhandary et al, 1974)
The experiment brought some important information about effect of ethephon on morphological, floral and yield attributing character of cucumber
Summary
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) (2n=14), belonging to the family Cucurbitaceous, because of its varied usefulness, excellent flavour, texture and medicinal value, is among the most prized vegetable (Sebastian et al, 2010). Cucumber is a summer vegetable generally grown under open field conditions, optimum temperature for growth and development being 20oC to 30oC. Cucumber has a diverse array of unisexual or bisexual flowering sex phenotypes. The majority of cucumber hybrids are gynoecious (Wang et al, 2011). Sex expression is an important factor that has a positive effect on yield and that constitutes a major component of cucumber improvement programs. The sex appearance of cucumber is closely connected with its genetics as well as its chemical and environmental conditions (Arpan, 1974).
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