The Effect of Grafting on Several Commercial Cucurbit Rootstocks on Growth, Yield, Nutrient Uptake and Fruit Quality of Some Greenhouse Cucumber Cultivars

In the production of fruit vegetables in the greenhouse, grafting on resistant rootstocks is one of the most important methods to deal with problems such as low root temperatures and soil diseases. In order to evaluate the effect of commercial cucurbita rootstocks (Shintoza, Rootpower, Cobalt) on qualitative and quantitative three cultivars of greenhouse cucumber (Shahin, Nogin, Katrina), an experiment was carried out in a factorial completely randomized block design (The first factor consists of three cultivars of cucumber and the second factor consists of three base cultivars with the control (no grafting) under hydroponic with four replicates in the Agricultural Research Station, University of Tabriz in field Conditions at 2016. In this experiment, in addition to evaluating root and scion compatibility, fruit quality indices including acidity, TSS, pH, EC and growth indices including leaf area, stem and leaf dry weight, stem length, yield, mineral uptake (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) was examined in fruits, leaves and roots. The results showed that rootstocks caused an increase in fresh and dry weight of shoots, yield, leaf area, number of fruits and soluble solids. The graft reduced the length of the cucumbers and had no effect on the diameter. The highest percentages of fruit dry matter were 5.46% and 5.40%, respectively, for Shahin/ Shintoza and Nogin/ Shintoza. The highest soluble solids of fruit 4.41 were related to Shahin/ Rootpower bonding compound. Transplantation increased the uptake of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus nutrients. In general, grafting on these rootstocks had a positive effect on most traits especially on fruit yield and had no negative effect on the taste of greenhouse cucumbers.