ISHS Acta Horticulturae 156: XII Working Party on Greenhouse Cucumbers
EFFECTS OF CHLORFLURENOL ON FRUIT SET AND YIELD OF GREENHOUSE CUCUMBERS |
| Authors: | H. Nerson, Harry S. Paris, M. Azaizeh |
| Abstract:
Fresh-market cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.) are produced in unheated plastic-covered greenhouses during the cooler months (November through March) in Israel. Temperatures and insolation during this period are generally high enough to achieve high yields from parthenocarpic gynoecious cultivars without artificial input of energy. Temperatures (5–10°C at night, 15–22°C during the day) and insolation are lowest from mid-December to mid-February, resulting in poor fruit set and development and low yields during this 2-month period. In one experiment, two applications of Curbiset (4.5% chlorflurenol) to adult plants on January 5 and 17 increased average fruit number 2- to 3-fold during a 20-day harvest, period beginning at the second spray date. The efficiency of chlorflurenol in inducing fruit development was similar for concentrations ranging from 10 to 480 ppm. However, at high concentrations (80–480 ppm), negative after-effects on plant health and development were observed. In another experiment, three applications of 25 ppm chlorflurenol, on February 5, February 15, and March 10, increased fruit number by 17%. In a third experiment, conducted during the unusually warm and dry winter of 1984, chlorflurenol increased early yield by 15–25%, but decreased mid-season and late yields because of severe negative after-effects on vegetative growth, flowering, and fruit set. Further experimentation is needed to evaluate better the possible usefulness of chlorflurenol under greenhouse conditions. | |
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