Multi-Year Field Evaluation of Parthenocarpic Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Genotypes under Natural Heat-Drought Stress in Semi-Arid Environments

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the yield performance, stability, and selection potential of parthenocarpic cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) genotypes under naturally fluctuating heat–drought conditions in a semi-arid field environment. Ten genotypes were evaluated during two consecutive growing seasons (2024-2025) in Gaziantep, southeastern Türkiye, using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Yield and fruit-related traits were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation analysis, principal component analysis, and a standardized multi-trait selection index. Significant genotypic differences were detected for yield (p<0.001), with mean fruit yield ranging from 510.64 to 698.24 g plant⁻¹. Genotype accounted for the largest proportion of phenotypic variation (ηp²= 0.93), whereas seasonal variation explained a substantially smaller proportion (ηp²= 0.17). Although the genotype × year interaction was statistically significant (p= 0.037), the ranking of the highest-yielding genotypes remained consistent across growing seasons, indicating broad adaptation and practical yield stability. Correlation analysis revealed that fruit diameter (r= 0.89), fruit length (r= 0.88), and seedlessness (r= 0.87) were more strongly associated with yield than fruit set (r= 0.75), suggesting that sustained fruit development contributed more to final productivity than initial fruit set under semi-arid conditions. Principal component analysis and the multi-trait selection index consistently identified G10, G9, and G8 as the superior genotypes. These findings demonstrate that genotype was the principal determinant of yield performance under natural semi-arid conditions and that multi-year field evaluation combined with complementary statistical approaches provides a reliable framework for identifying climate-resilient parthenocarpic cucumber genotypes suitable for breeding and commercial production under semi-arid conditions.

Keywords

• Yield stability
• reproductive traits
• fruit set
• seedlessness
• selection index

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