Pantnagar Journal of Research

Abstract

Cucumber is a cross-pollinated crop exhibiting diverse flower morphology including male, female and hermaphrodite flowers. Parthenocarpic cucumber varieties produce female or gynoecious flower leading to formation of fruit without fertilization, which poses a challenge in seed production due to the absence of male flowers. Hence, the present study aimed to access the impact of chemical treatments on male flower induction, seed yield and quality in parthenocarpic cucumber (Pant Parthenocarpic Cucumber-3). The experiment was conducted at the V.R.C., Pantnagar, from 2021-22 to 2023-2024 in a RBD layout with three replications. Nine treatments, including different concentrations of silver nitrate, gibberellic acid (GA3), and silver thiosulphate, were applied at the 2 and 4 true leaf stages. On the basis of 3-year pooled data it was observed that application of silver nitrate at 500 ppm induced the maximum number of male flowers (60) followed by 250 ppm (56.89) and 750 ppm (47) silver nitrate. Application of silver nitrate at 500 ppm also recorded the maximum number of seeds per fruit (82.62) and seed yield (462.48 Kg/ha) with no significant difference in seed quality parameters of different treatments. The benefit cost ratio was highest (3.46) in application of silver nitrate at 500 ppm followed by application of 750 ppm silver nitrate (3.22). Therefore, it can be concluded that foliar spray of silver nitrate at 500 ppm at 2 and 4 true leaf stages might be recommended for induction of male flowers in parthenocarpic cucumber under Tarai region of Uttarakhand.