Effects Of Grafting On The Growth, Quality And Physiological Properties Of Cucumber

Nowadays, cucumber yield and quality are declining caused by continuous cropping, which is more and more serious. The grafting technique commonly used in cucumber production solved many problems resulted from the continuous cropping, but the researches about grafting on cucumber yield, quality, photosynthetic pigment and the mechanism of osmotic regulation substances are different. This research adopts Jingchun-5 cucumber which is widely cultivated as scion, and'Sintozwa' with strong resistance, good affinity, 'Changqinteng','Jingxin-5',' Yunnan Cucurbita ficifolia' as rootstock, and the Jingchun-5 cucumber own-root seedling as control. The effects of different rootstocks on the plant growth, cucumber yield, quality, photosynthetic pigments and osmotic regulation substance were all studied in this research. The results were as follows:We have tested and analyzed the effect on growth of cucumber in different rootstocks. The results showed that surviving rate of different grafted plants is above 85%, but surviving rate is different in the four rootstocks. Surviving rate of the'Sintozwa' and 'Yunnan Cucurbita ficifolia'is more higher than the'Changqinteng' and the Jingxin-5. Stem diameter, main vine height, leaf numbers, leaf length and leaf width of the four grafted combination are better than CK. However, the grafting effect of'Sintozwa' and'Yunnan Cucurbita ficifolia' are better than the'Changqinteng' and Jingxin-5, and the vigorous plant growth can significantly enhance the grafted seedlings growing.We have tested and analyzed the effect on physiological indicators of cucumber in different rootstocks. The results showed that 'Yunnan Cucurbita ficifolia' as the rootstock can significantly increase the single cucumber fruit weight, and'Sintozwa' as the rootstock can significantly increase the cucumber yield. The effect of grafting on fruit water content, soluble protein content and soluble sugar content is not obvious. The Vc content and the nitrate content significantly decreased after grafting except'Sintozwa'. This shows that the 'Sintozwa' is the perfect rootstock for grafting cucumber.We have studied the effects on Photosynthetic and Anti-oxidase System of cucumber leaves in different rootstock treatments. The result showed that the Chi a content and total Chi content of grafted combination were significantly higher than the scion-root seedling. Carotenoid content of grafted cucumber combination was a little bit of higher than the scion-root seedling, but it did not reach the significant level. Pn, Gs, Ci and Tr of the cucumber in 4 different grafted treatment were absolutely higher than the CK, and result of 'Sintozwa' was batter than the best of the 3 grafted treatments. Activity of anti-oxidase in the 4 treatments were enhanced because of grafting, but the rate of O2- were obviously down by grafting. Resistance to adverse environmental conditions was increased because of grafting technique,'Sintozwa' is the best to improve stress resistance to the environmental conditions in this research.