Vol. 11, Special Issue 5 (2022)

Author(s):
Sailen Gogoi, Manisha Kachari, Ira Sarma, Shahida Choudhury and Aradhana Barooah

Abstract:
In Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) higher sex ratio and vigorous vegetative growth in open pollinated varieties results in poor crop yield. This study was aimed to determine the “effect of growth regulators application and canopy management in cucumber seed production”. The experiment was conducted in the Experimental Farm, Department of Horticulture, AAU, Jorhat using Randomized Block Design with 3 replications and 12 treatment combinations of growth regulator application (Ethrel 100 ppm, Ethrel 200 ppm, NAA 100 ppm and NAA 200 ppm) and pruning (retention of 3 laterals, 5 laterals, and control) operations. The seeds of cucumber var. Long Green were sown at 3 m x 2 m spacing and growth regulators were applied at 2-4 leaf stage. The results revealed that the treatment combination of Ethrel 200 ppm and allowing 5 laterals per plant produced the maximum fruits (13.10), seeds per fruit (439.56), seed yield (148.45 g/plant) and total seed yield (2.37 q/ha) while Ethrel 100 ppm without pruning recorded minimum fruits per plant (9.98), seeds per fruit (392.70), seed yield (100.67 g/plant), total seed yield (1.65 q/ha). The minimum sex ratio (10.97) was observed in plants subjected to Ethrel 200 ppm spray with retention of 3 laterals followed by Ethrel 200 ppm and 5 laterals (11.19). Seed germination on storage over time was also showed a significant result with the application of growth regulator spray and canopy management. Computation of production economics revealed Ethrel 200 ppm spray with 5 lateral branches per plant to give the highest B: C ratio (1.87) for seed production in cucumber.