Screening of Cucumber Germplasms for High Temperature and Long Day Photoperiodic Tolerance

Abstract

A total of 139 cucumber germplasms collected from within the country and abroad were sown on May 15 and 29, 2000 on single row observation at Horticulture Farm, Lamjung Campus, Lamjung and Yampaphant, Tanahun, respectively. The germplasms varied widely in leaf color, duration of producing the first male and female flowers after sowing, number of node bearing first male and female flowers, number of nodes and branches per plant, sex ratio, number of female flowers and fruits per plant, yield per plant and market acceptability of the fruits at both sites. Altogether, 25 entries produced fruits at Yampaphant. Of them, the entry collected from Makwanpur (seed distributed by the Plan Office) and the next entry collected from Dhankuta and named Dhankuta Local produced the highest fruit yield of 4.69 and 4.50 kg/plant, respectively. At Lamjung site, the entry named Mahyco Green Long produced the highest yield of 1.77 kg/plant followed by Bhaktapur Local with 1.67 kg/plant. Only ten entries produced yield at both sites. Of them, the entry collected from Suryapur of Chitwan gave the highest yield of 2.59 and 1.17 kg/plant at Yampaphant and Lamjung, respectively. Hence, these collections were found the most promising with high tolerance to high temperature and long day photoperiod condition as compared to other entries. Key words: Cucumber germplasm, screening, high temperature, long day J. Inst. Agric. Anim. Sci. 27:45-51 (2006)