Effects of pre-planting gibberellic acid applications on plant growth on cucumber seedlings treated with Prohexadione-Calcium

In this study, it was aimed to determine how the stopping effect of Prohexadione-Calcium (Pro-Ca) applied to cucumber seedlings to prevent excessive grading will be affected by gibberellic acid (GA3) applications before planting. The experiment was conducted in a gothic type polycarbon soilless agricultural greenhouse with automation system belonging to Kırşehir Ahi Evran University Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Horticulture in the spring and summer production period of 2019. Four doses of Pro-Ca (0, 50, 100 and 200 ppm) as a foliar spray at the stage when the first true leaves were seen on cucumber seedlings and 50 and 100 ppm doses of GA3 were applied as a foliar spray to cucumber seedlings which reached planting size. The experiment was planned in a 4x3 factorial trial design with 4 replications and 3 plants per repetition. In the study, the effects of the applications on the morphological during the seedling period and on the morphological, pomological, leaf pigment contents and yield parameters per plant in the post-planting period were determined. As a result, it has been determined that 50 and 100 ppm Pro-Ca applications during the seedling period are effective in maintaining the seedling quality without causing a significant decrease in the other morphological parameters examined. It was determined that GA3 applications applied to seedlings where Pro-Ca was applied before planting were effective in eliminating the growth inhibiting effect caused by Pro-Ca. Especially, 50 ppm GA3 application applied to plants treated with 50 and 100 ppm Pro-Ca had positive effects on the examined morphological, pomological and leaf pigment parameters without causing a decrease in yield.