Effectiveness of Four Rootstocks against Fusarium wilt, Yield and Quality in Cucumber

Abstract

Fusarium crown root rot caused by F. solani is one of the most important diseases that limiting cucumber cultivation all around the world. There is more than one way to deal with this disease, but sometimes these practises may be insufficient. For this reason, the use of resistant varieties and rootstocks gains importance in the control of soil-borne diseases. The objectives of this study are to determine the resistance of breeding materials to fusarium and to evaluate their rootstock performance and to reveal their effects on fruit yield and quality. To determine the Fusarium resistance level, 48 breeding materials were tested and four moderate resistant materials were grafted onto the hybrid Gordion variety. The effects of grafted plants on fruit yield and vegetative growth were evaluated. Early yield was also significantly higher in grafted plants than in the ungrafted control. Strongtosa had the highest fruit per plant, followed by RS 841 and 13×18 hybrid rootstock. Although higher yields were generally obtained in grafted plants compared to the control group. Additinally fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit shape index, fruit firmness and panel test were evaluated in grafted plants. These materials used as rootstocks increased plant growth and yield.

Keywords

• Biotic stress
• Cucurbits
• Grafting
• Resistance
• Variety

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