EFFECTS OF ALKALI-STRESS ON UNGRAFTED AND GRAFTED CUCUMBER PLANTS: USING TWO TYPES OF LOCAL SQUASH AS ROOTSTOCK

Abstract

This experiment was arranged as a factorial in the framework of a completely randomized design with two factors, rootstock (ungrafted cucumber, Cucurbita moschata and Cucurbita maxima) and bicarbonate [10 mM sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃), AS; and 10 mM sodium chloride (NaCl), SS] with three replications. Overall growth was affected by NaHCO₃ by increasing the pH of the nutrient solutions. C. moschata-grafted cucumber had the highest shoot length, node number, shoot diameter, leaf number, and fresh and dry mass of leaf, stem and root in SS- and AS-treated plants. When plants treated with AS, the maximum quantum yield, Fv/Fm, decreased significantly in leaves of all plants except in the young leaves of C. moschata-grafted cucumber compared with SS treated plants. Salt stress increased proline content in the leaves of C. maxima-grafted cucumbers compared to AS treated plants, significantly. It is concluded that using C. moschata rootstock can reduce deleterious effects of alkalinity stress on cucumber plants.

Keywords:

• alkalinity
• bicarbonate
• Cucumis sativus
• grafting
• rootstock

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Financial support from the Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan is gratefully acknowledged.