Effect of doses and stages of application of maleic hydrazide on sex expression growth and yield of cucumber

Abstract

Abstract newlineThe study entitled Effect of Doses and Stages of Application of Maleic Hydrazide on Sex Expression, Growth and Yield of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) was conducted during the year of 2023 and 2024 at the Vegetable Research Centre, JNKVV, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. The experiment aimed to investigate the influence of maleic hydrazide (MH) at different doses (0 350 ppm) and stages of application (cotyledon stage, 2-4 true leaf stage and both cotyledon and 2-4 true leaf stage) on cucumber growth parameters, phenology, sex expression, yield, physiological responses, pollen sterility and phytotoxicity.The results demonstrated a dose-dependent reduction in vine length, internodal length and leaf area duration (LAD) with the lowest recorded at 350 ppm. Higher MH doses (300 350 ppm) significantly increased the number of primary branches, female flowers and fruit yield per vine, while reducing the number of male flowers and improving the female-to-male flower ratio. The earliest flowering and fruit set were observed at higher doses, particularly when MH was applied at both cotyledon and 2-4 true leaf stage. Treatments with 350 ppm (M7) at both stages (S3) yielded the maximum fruit number (21.68 fruits/vine), fruit yield (266.89 q/ha), while untreated control plots produced significantly lower yields (159.44 q/ha).Pollen sterility increased with higher MH doses, while phytotoxic effects remained negligible. Physiological parameters, such as relative growth rate (RGR) and net assimilation rate (NAR), exhibited dose-dependent reductions. However, these treatments effectively enhanced crop growth efficiency and advanced harvest maturity, particularly at the S3 stage.Quality analysis revealed a significant increase in TSS with higher doses and enhancing fruit quality. newlineThis study highlights the potential of using maleic hydrazide at 300 350 ppm, applied at critical growth stages, to optimize cucumber yield by modulating growth, sex expression and flowering dynamics while ensuring negligible phytotoxic effects. These findings provide actionable insights for enhancing cucumber productivity under varying agronomic conditions. newline