Growth stage, flowering pattern, yield, and harvest date prediction of four types of cucumber tested at 10 planting dates.

摘要

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is a major vegetable crop worldwide. Compared with many crops, cucumber reaches harvest stage rapidly. Computer growth models have been developed to help researchers, growers and processors predict plant development and harvest date. The objective of this study was (1) to study growth and development of cucumber using both days after planting and cumulative heat units to determine their value in prediction of harvest date for pickling cucumbers grown in North Carolina, USA and (2) to study vegetative and flowering patterns from planting to harvest. Plantings were made every week for 10 weeks (30 April through 2 July). Four cultigens (Calypso, M 21, Wis. SMR 18 and WI 2757) were chosen to represent a range of types. Data on plant growth stage and weather conditions were collected daily. Main growth stages were planting (direct sowing), emergence, vine tip over, flowering and fruit harvest. Heat units were calculated from weather data using a model with the daily maximum air temperature, a base temperature of 15.5 degrees C, and a reducing ceiling of 32 degrees C. Calypso was the earliest maturing cultigen, M 21 and Wis. SMR 18 were intermediate, and WI 2757 was the latest. Plantings made early in the season required more days to reach fruiting stage than those made later. Heat units were more stable over planting dates than days after planting. Calypso had more branches per plant and more nodes per branch than the dwarf-determinate cultigen M 21. Early yield was correlated with number of branches per plant and nodes per branch.