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.