The effects of different rootstock on plant growth, yield and fruit properties in grafted cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

This study was carried out under plastic greenhouse conditions in Salkım village in Kızıltepe district of Mardin province. Şampiyon Menderes Fı and Solo Fı cucumber varieties were grafted onto four (Nun 9075 Fı, Acar Fı, Zorba Fı, TZ 148 Fı) inter-specific hybrid Cucurbita (Cucurbita maxima × Cucurbita moschata) rootstocks and ungrafted cucumber plants were used as control. The effects of grafting on plant growth parameters such as days to flowering, plant height, main stem diameter and number of nodes and some fruit characteristics (fruit number, fruit weight, fruit diameter, fruit length) were investigated. Among the cucumber varieties used in the study, Solo Fı had stronger plant growth than Champion Menderes Fı. In terms of yield, Nun 9075 Fı and Zorba Fı rootstocks were superior, the highest yield (10.55 kg / m2) was found in Champion Menderes Fı grafted on Zorba Fı rootstock. Zorba Fı rootstock had higher values in terms of the number of fruit and fruit weight while, Nun 9075 Fı rootstock had the highest values in fruit diameter and fruit length. In terms of fruit weight, Solo Fı grafted on Acar Fı rootstock had the highest value (211.63 g), while Solo Fı variety grafted on Nun 9075 Fı rootstock had the highest value (40.16 mm) in fruit diameter. According to the findings of the study, both in terms of plant growth parameters and fruit characteristics grafting on Cucurbita rootstocks showed better results than control (ungrafted) plants.