Combined application of branch pruning and biofertilizer on leaf photosynthetic pigments and fruit quality of greenhouse cucumber

Greenhouse cucumber have branches that pruned continuously to allow light to penetrate into the plant. Today, due to the problems of chemical fertilizers, the use of biological fertilizers recommended. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of pruning and application of biohealth biological fertilizer (containing 70% humic acid, 5% bacillus, 5% trichoderma and 5% seaweed extract) on the quality and quantity of greenhouse cucumber fruit cv. Soltan. The results showed that the amount of fruit flavonoids, fruit phosphorus, chlorophyll a in the middle leaf, total chlorophyll in the middle leaf of the plant, carotenoids in the upper leaf, anthocyanin in the upper leaf of cucumber was affected by fertilizer. The amount of fruit antioxidants, total fruit sugar, fruit glucose, chlorophyll b and carotenoids in the middle leaf of the plant affected by the interaction of fertilizer and pruning. The highest amount of fruit antioxidants seen in complete pruning-without fertilizer with 66.37%. The highest fruit glucose obtained in the first node pruning without fertilizer with 102.96 mg/gFW. The highest amount of total sugar and chlorophyll a in the middle leaf of the plant recorded in complete pruning without fertilizer treatment with 44.02 mg/gDW and 0.98 mg/gFW, respectively. As a recommendation, if the purpose of greenhouse cucumber cultivation is to produce for a short period of time and at the same time maintain fruit quality, pruning the third node is beneficial, but when long-term cultivation is considered, pruning the first and second nodes is appropriate.