Vol. 8, Issue 11, Part L (2024)

Modification of the sex expression and maintenance of gynoecious parthenocarpic line in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

Author(s):

Vishwas Rajeshkumar Acharya, Sushil Kumar, Zeal Acharya, Dimple Gor, Nisha Patel and Akarsh Parihar

Abstract:

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), a cross-pollinated yet self-compatible crop, exhibits diverse floral morphologies, including male, female, and hermaphrodite flowers, typically borne solitarily. Sex expression in cucumber is profoundly influenced by growth regulators, which can significantly alter flower morphology. Gynoecious parthenocarpic cucumbers, ideal for off-season cultivation hance naturally lack of male flowers, necessitating the application of growth hormones to induce male flower production for the efficient maintenance of these lines. A study conducted during the Kharif 2020 aimed to manipulate the sex expression in the gynoecious parthenocarpic cucumber variety ‘Pusa Seedless 6’ using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. Treatments included varying concentrations of gibberellic acid (500, 1000, 1500 ppm), silver nitrate (250, 500, 750 ppm), and silver thiosulphate (250, 500, 750 ppm), along with a control (water spray). These chemicals were applied at the two-to-four-leaf stages at a rate of 10 ml per plant. The results revealed significant differences in sex expression parameters, including the days to the appearance of the first male flower, the node position of the first male flower, and the total number of male flowers per plant. Pollen viability assessments confirmed a 100% germination rate in induced male flowers, whereas no male flowers were observed in the control group. Among the treatments, silver thiosulphate (Ag2S2O3) at 500 ppm proved to be the most effective treatment without obstructing the plant health, inducing an average of 43.44 male flowers per plant, with the first male flower appearing at the 10.67 node in 43.56 days, demonstrating the potential of this treatment for maintaining gynoecious parthenocarpic cucumber lines efficiently.

DOI: 10.33545/26174693.2024.v8.i11l.2977

Pages: 928-931  |  664 Views  404 Downloads

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How to cite this article:
Vishwas Rajeshkumar Acharya, Sushil Kumar, Zeal Acharya, Dimple Gor, Nisha Patel and Akarsh Parihar. Modification of the sex expression and maintenance of gynoecious parthenocarpic line in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). Int. J. Adv. Biochem. Res. 2024;8(11):928-931. DOI: 10.33545/26174693.2024.v8.i11l.2977