Grafting parthenocarpic cucumber for yield and quality

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during 2019-20 to know the effect of grafting on parthenocarpic cucumber for yield and quality. The study included nine rootstocks viz., three from pumpkin, two of bottle gourd, two from sponge gourd, one from summer squash and one from monoecious cucumber grafted with parthenocarpic cucumber genotype adopting one cotyledon grafting method. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications and ten treatment combinations in the naturally ventilated polyhouse. The data was recorded for 22 quantitative and biochemical traits and when subjected to analysis of variance, all the traits showed significant variations except days to first harvest. The maximum graft survival (21 days after grafting) was recorded in the parthenocarpic cucumber (BRPCU-1) grafted on pumpkin (Chakor) rootstock and the least was in sponge gourd (Rajendra Nenua-1). The rootstock of monoecious cucumber (Swarna Sheetal) was observed with highest and significantly superior values for average fruit weight (120.48 g), fruit yield (3.19 Kg per vine) and fruit length (19.27 cm) than non grafted control. The graft combination of parthenocarpic cucumber scion (BRPCU-1) with rootstock of bottle gourd (Rajendra Chamatkar) recorded significantly higher total soluble solids whereas the pumpkin rootstock (Chakor) recorded significantly more ascorbic acid content than control. All the treatments of grafting revealed significantly superior total chlorophyll content than non-grafted control. It was concluded that the parthenocarpic cucumber grafted on monoecious cucumber rootstock (Swarna Sheetal) recorded the highest yield, whereas the bottle gourd rootstock (Rajendra Chamatkar) attributed the best performance in terms of quality.