Growth, lateral shoot development, and fruit yield of white-spined cucumber (Cucumis sativus cv. Baekseong-3) as affected by grafting methods

摘要

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of grafting methods on the lateral shoots of white spine cucumber (Cucumis sativus cv. Backseong-3). Grafting methods used were: Tongued approach grafting (TAG), single cotyledon splice grafting (SCSG), root removed single cotyledon splice grafting (RRSG), and non-graft. In RRSG, the root weight was equal to that of the control at 1 weeks after grafting but significantly higher at 2 weeks after grafting, while plant height was lower as compared to that of control before transplanting. The number of lateral shoots was 28 in RRSG and 19 in the control and the total number of marketable fruits per plant was 31 in RRSG and 24 in the control, showing the increase of 27 percent in marketable yields. The trans-zeatin content in roots of RRSG was 1.6 limes higher than that of TAG and 2.2 times higher than non-grafted plants. Root activity and bleeding xylem sap were highest in RRSG. Through SEM observations, it was found that fusion states of grafting section was better in RRSG than in control.