Floral biology studies in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

Artificial pollination of vegetable crops necessitates the knowledge of crop's floral biology. In this aspect present investigations were carried out, to gather the information on the floral biology of monoecious (K-75 and UHF-CUC-101) and gynoecious (GYNO-1 and GYNO-2) varieties of cucumber at the Experimental Research Farm, Department of Vegetable Science, Dr. YSPUHF Nauni, Solan (HP) during Kharif, 2016. The experiment was laid out in a RCBD with three replications. The observations were recorded on time of anthesis, dehiscence, pollen viability (%), stigma receptivity and node number bearing first female flower. The experimental results showed that anthesis started at 6AM and completed by 8AM with the maximum anthesis between 6AM to 7AM in monoecious varieties whereas, in gynoecious varieties it was maximum upto 6:00AM in both open and controlled conditions and similar pattern was observed for dehiscence. Dehiscence occurs soon after anthesis. Maximum pollen viability was recorded on the day of anthesis and viability of pollen under refrigerated condition did not decrease as rapidly as it was under room temperature condition with the duration of pollen storage. Maximum stigma receptivity was noticed at anthesis time and pollination during this interval recorded maximum fruit set. Gynoecious lines were earlier in flowering and fruiting than monoecious varieties.