The Effect of Grafting and Temperature Stress on Growth and Physiological Characteristics of Cucumber plants Grafted on Cucurbita moschata and Cucurbita pepo

To evaluate the effect of grafting cucumber (Cucumis sativus var. Super daminos) on Cucurbita moschata collected in Isfahan and Cucurbita pepo on plant growth and physiology, comparing with self-grafted and non-garfted as a control an experiment was designed. The experiment based on carried out as a compound experiment based on a completely randomized design (CRD) with 4 replications. Treatments were temperature included optimum temperature (27±2) and cold temperature (12±2) on cucumber (Cucumis sativus var. Super daminos) in the greenhouse of Isfahan University of Technology. Results were shown that the dry weight of the shoot decreased with temperature stress and grafting on C. moschata and C. pepo (Isfahan) enhance the dry weight of the shoot under stress. Grafting on Isfahan rootstock and self-grafted cucumber increased chlorophyll content compare with other treatments in optimum condition. Grafted cucumber on C. pepo (Isfahan) increased photosynthesis compare with other treatments in stress conditions. Mesophyll conductance decreased in stress temperature and grafting on C. pepo (Isfahan) improved it. Generally, grafting on C. pepo (Isfahan) with improving some growth and physiological characteristics of cucumber increased it tolerate to low temperature compare with non-grafted plants.