Abstract
Abstract: Seed production depends on many factors. In this study, two independent experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of pollination time, crossed node spacing, male flower age, number of crossings on each plant and deletion/non-deletion of other fruits in the crossed nodes on the cross-ability and seed production in greenhouse cucumber. In every experiment, three mentioned factors were assayed based on factorial experiment as a randomized complete block design. Crosses were done on 10 plants in every replication of treatments. The results showed that pollination at 8:00‒9:45 AM, led to higher amount of full seed weight in contrast to other times of pollination. Increasing crossed node spacing from 2‒3 to 4‒5 nodes led to an increase in the number of empty seeds, which was ascribed to the reduced seed production. The highest amount of number of seeds per fruit, seed weigh and number of full seeds were obtained when young male flowers were used. Moreover, higher seed production was obtained from five, instead three crossings on each plant, and the non-deletion of fruits on the crossed nodes. Overall, higher percentage of seed production per fruit was obtained when crossing was done with young male flower in early morning and high number of crossing in every plant.
Highlights
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) that is a commercially important cucurbitaceous vegetable is grown throughout the world
The last few decades have witnessed a dramatic increase in the hybrid seed production, taking advantage of heterosis, improved technology, and controlled environments (Nerson, 2007)
Increasing crossed node spacing from 2‒3 to 4‒5 nodes led to an increase in the number of empty seeds, which was ascribed to the reduced number of seed production
Summary
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) that is a commercially important cucurbitaceous vegetable is grown throughout the world. Cucumber that is Originated in India or China, is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family (Harlan, 1975), which comes in different types used either fresh or processed (Shetty and Wehner, 2002). It is grown for its tender fruits which are consumed either raw in salads, cooked as vegetable, or prepared as pickling cucumber in its immature stage. Cucumber plants produce different sex phenotypes: monoecious (staminate and pistillate flowers), gynoecious (pistillate flower only), and hermaphroditic (perfect flowers) (Staub et al, 2008). After crossing the male and female flowers, different factors come into play that can affect fruit yield and quality
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