THE ROLE OF GRAFTING IN IMPROVING THE PRODUCTIVITY OF CUCUMBER UNDER SALINE STRESS CONDITIONS

Abstract

A greenhouse experiment was carried out during 2017 and 2018 summer seasons at Desert
Research Center farm, Ras Sudr, South Sinai. The aim of the experiments was to investigate the effect of
different rootstocks and citric acid foliar spray on growth, yield and its components and net income as well as
net income diffraction percentage and mineral composition of cucumber plant Safi (F1) hybrid. The foliar spray
of citric acid was four concentrations (0, 200, 300 and 400 ppm) and the grafting treatments were check
nongrafted, Safi (F1) grafted onto Shentoza or on Coplt rootstocks (Cucurbita moschata Duch.). Strip plot
design was used where main plots were assigned for foliar spray and sub plots for grafting. Results showed that
grafting increased plant growth, yield and its components, marketable yield, net income and net income
diffraction percentage. The increasing was differing according to rootstock source. Grafting, also, increased leaf
chlorophyll and fruit potassium and calcium content while sodium content was decreased. The highest values of
all measured parameters were obtained, in general, with cucumber plants grafted onto Shentoza rootstock. As
for citric acid effects, results indicated that its application increased all parameters except sodium content; the
highest values were obtained with cucumber plants sprayed with citric acid at rate 400 ppm. As for the
combination between grafting technic and citric acid concentration, the best growth and highest yield and its
components were obtained with the cucumber plants grafted onto Shentoza rootstock combined with the highest
concentration of citric acid. Also, leaf chlorophyll and potassium of fruits recorded the highest increases,
whereas fruit calcium and sodium were not significantly affected.