Grafting parthenocarpic cucumber for yield and quality

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during 2019-20 to know theeffect of grafting on parthenocarpic cucumber for yield andquality. The study included nine rootstocks viz., three frompumpkin, two of bottle gourd, two from sponge gourd, onefrom summer squash and one from monoecious cucumbergrafted with parthenocarpic cucumber genotype adoptingone cotyledon grafting method. The experiment was laidout in randomized block design with three replications andten treatment combinations in the naturally ventilatedpolyhouse. The data was recorded for 22 quantitative andbiochemical traits and when subjected to analysis ofvariance, all the traits showed significant variations exceptdays to first harvest. The maximum graft survival (21 daysafter grafting) was recorded in the parthenocarpic cucumber(BRPCU-1) grafted on pumpkin (Chakor) rootstock and theleast was in sponge gourd (Rajendra Nenua-1). Therootstock of monoecious cucumber (Swarna Sheetal) wasobserved with highest and significantly superior values foraverage fruit weight (120.48 g), fruit yield (3.19 Kg per vine)and fruit length (19.27 cm) than non grafted control. Thegraft combination of parthenocarpic cucumber scion(BRPCU-1) with rootstock of bottle gourd (RajendraChamatkar) recorded significantly higher total soluble solidswhereas the pumpkin rootstock (Chakor) recordedsignificantly more ascorbic acid content than control. Allthe treatments of grafting revealed significantly superiortotal chlorophyll content than non-grafted control. It wasconcluded that the parthenocarpic cucumber grafted onmonoecious cucumber rootstock (Swarna Sheetal) recordedthe highest yield, whereas the bottle gourd rootstock(Rajendra Chamatkar) attributed the best performance interms of quality.