Combined Influence of Grafting and Type of Protected Environment Structure on Agronomic and Physiological Traits of Single- and Cluster-Fruit-Bearing Cucumber Hybrids

Abstract

Protected vegetable cultivation is a fast-growing sector in which grafting plays a crucial role for success. Cucumber is predominantly grown under protected conditions. The popular slicing (mini) cucumber comprises two segments, single- and cluster-fruit-bearing. In the present study, the performance of select fruit-bearing hybrids grafted as scions onto commercial Cucurbita hybrid rootstock ‘NS-55’ was evaluated under three different low-cost protected structures in arid regions. With respect to type of protected structure, cucumber performance was superior under a naturally ventilated polyhouse (NVP) than an insect net house (INH) or a shade net house (SNH). Micro-climate parameters inside NVP (air temperature, RH and PAR) were more congenial for cucumber than those in net houses, thereby facilitating improved physiology (chlorophyll fluorescence, chlorophyll and plant water potential) and leaf mineral status. Grafting invariably improved growth and yield parameters under all protected structures. Overall plant performance was better in the grafted cluster-fruit-bearing hybrid ‘Terminator’ than the single-fruit-bearing hybrid ‘Nefer’ or their non-grafted counterparts. Furthermore, NVP was found to be superior to net houses for water productivity, and grafted plants were more water use efficient than their counterpart non-grafted plants. Thus, NVP can be considered a suitable low-cost protected structure in conjunction with grafting to boost cucumber crop and water productivity in arid regions.

Integrative Effect of Protective Structures and Irrigation Levels on Tomato Performance in Indian Hot-Arid Region

“…It was very clear that, as the amount of irrigation water was reduced, it ultimately affected plant growth in all the protected environment structures. Our findings are in accordance with those stated by Khapte et al [ 26 ] in cucumbers, Guilioni et al [ 29 ] in peas, Kirnak et al [ 30 ] in eggplants and Hassan et al [ 31 ] in tomatoes.…”

“…These higher values for fruit physical parameters can be ascribed to the more efficient translocation of photo-assimilates in the plants grown in the NVP and the better source-sink movement, and it is also related to assimilate availability [ 32 , 33 ]. The plants in NVP could have better acquisition of water and nutrients due to a proper soil–plant–water balance and a favorable micro-environment, resulting in bigger fruits, as also observed in previous work on cucumbers [ 26 ]. In addition, the higher firmness of fruits from the NVP structure has more importance from post-harvest perspectives, such as transportation, marketability and storage of the produce.…”

“…The differences in the vegetative traits among the structures was strongly associated with the effect of micro-climatic variables and light transmitted and modified by the cladding material [ 25 ]. In our previous work, the performance of greenhouse cucumbers, grown under low-tech structures during August–November, was superior in NVP; this was ascribed to better nutrient status as well as physiological processes (chlorophyll, F v /F m and WP) of cucumber plants [ 26 ], favored by more congenial soil and air temperatures, humidity, and PAR availability in NVP than in net houses [ 3 , 26 ]. In the present study, the PAR availability of the tomato during the vegetative stage was optimum in NVP and INH and produced photo-assimilate more efficiently.…”

“…Further, the higher yield in NVP is also ascribed to the cladding of plastic sheeting on the NVP, which helps accumulate CO 2 for photosynthesis, whereas in net houses CO 2 escapes [ 41 , 42 ]. Likewise, the altered microclimate in a protected structure (i.e., NVP) and its positive influence on plant physiological processes and consequently on growth and yield was also reported in cucumbers [ 26 ].…”

Morphological and Physio-Biochemical Responses of Watermelon Grafted onto Rootstocks of Wild Watermelon [Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad] and Commercial Interspecific Cucurbita Hybrid to Drought Stress

“…The expansion of grafting application across the globe in recent decades is probably due to advancements in grafting research to deal with various aspects including grafting techniques, rootstock development, graft union formation and scion-rootstock interaction, and develop an understanding of issues ranging from morphological to physio-biochemical to molecular mechanisms in the leading grafted plants' tolerance to various stresses. The literature indicates the increasing instances of grafting applications successfully controlling certain biotic [3][4][5] and abiotic stresses [6][7][8][9][10][11][12], as well as increasing the nutrient-and water-use efficiency of vegetables [13][14][15].…”