Improvement of nutrient uptake, growth index and yield in two populations of East Azerbaijan cucumber by grafting rootstocks

In order to evaluate the effect of grafting of cucumber on commercial cucurbits rootstocks, an experiment was carried out in a completely randomized block design including eight treatments with three replicates in the field of Agricultural Research Station, University of Tabriz infield Conditions at 2015. Two populations of Azerbaijan cucumber (Basmenj andGouney, respectively) and a commercial cultivar of cucumber (Mahan) were grafted on two commercial cucurbits rootstocks (Shintozwa and Routpower, respectively).Treatments of experiment were including grafted combination of Basmenj/ Shintozwa, Basmenj/ Routpower, Gouney / Shintozwa, Gouney / Routpower, Mahan / Routpower, non grafted Basmenj, Gouney and Mahan cucumbers. Plants were grafted by single cotyledon splice grafting techniques. Results showed that rootstocks had a significant effect on growth and yield index including leaf area, cholorophyll index, stem length, shoot dry weight, fruits number per plant and yield per plant.The highest N concentrations in leaf wasobserved in grafted combination Mahan/ Routpower and thelowest inBasmenj.The highest K and P concentration inshootwere observed in grafted combination Mahan/ Routpower while the lowestK and P concentrations in shoot were observedinBasmenj. The highest nitrate concentration in leaf was observed inBasmenj and the lowest in grafted combination. Mahan/ Routpower. The highest concentration of sucrose and total soluble sugar in leaf were observed in grafted combination of Mahan/Routpower. In grafted combinations, the effect of rootstocks onN, P and Kconcentrations in shoot and yield indexin most traits were similar andShintowza and Routpower improved yield and growth index,because of increasing concentrations of N, P and K in shoots.