Comparison of Water Consumption and Plant Growth Characteristics in Different European Cucumber Varieties in Substrate Hydroponics

Abstract

This study aimed to select cucumber varieties adaptive to the UAE greenhouse climate by comparing LAVPD, water consumption, and growth performance of plants and fruits of different European cucumber varieties, including Gulfstream, Imea, Borja, and Dreamliner, in substrate hydroponic cultivation under hot and humid greenhouse conditions. The results showed that the total marketable fruit weight per plant was the highest in the Gulfstream variety during the extremely high temperature period, August, followed by Imea. During the entire growing period, the total marketable fruit weight was the highest in Imea, which was associated with the highest number of stem nodes. Water consumption for producing 200 g of fruit was lower in Gulfstream and Imea varieties. Thus, Gulfstream and Imea varieties could be recommended for production in the UAE greenhouse condition. Additional key words: humidity deficit, leaf temperature, leaf-air vapor pressure deficit, vapor pressure deficit, water use efficiency