Environmental modification of sex expression in cucumber plants

Abstract

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) variety Beta Alpha seedlings at two true leaves, were used to test the effect of Ethrel, Mefluidide, salinity and chilling on sex expression and the yield. Ethrel (0, 25, 50, and 75 ml ^-1), Mefluidide (0, 5, and 15 mg/1), Salinity (0, 2000 and 4000 mg/1) and chilling treatments exposured for 7 and/or 10 days at 10°C. Results, generally revealed that application of Ethrel increased the number of pistillate flowers, such increase was reflected on the change in the ratio of staminate to pistillate flowers (sex expression). Similar trend has been obtained by using Mefluidide. It is obvious, that salt treatment inhibited the production of both male and female flowers in the two concentrations used. Moreover, the chilling treatment showed a decrease of male flowers, such decrease was obvious at 7°C exposure which reflected on decreasing the sex expression instead of the unchanging on the female flowers number. Generally, decreasing of sex expression means increasing the number of fruits and yield.