Abstract

Salinity is a vital factor in reducing cucumber yield and quality. Grafting on the resistant rootstock could keep growth near to optimum condition. The present research aimed to investigate the characteristics of different rootstocks on the physiology and fruit characteristics of cucumber. Treatments were rootstocks [‘Rn’: Nongrafted (Cucumis sativus v. DAVOSII), ‘Rt’: Tanbal (Cucurbita maxima), ‘Rg’: Ghalyani (Lagenaria siceraria), ‘Rk’: Karela (Momordica charantia), ‘Rkh’: Khoreshi (Cucurbita pepo)] and salinity concentration included 0 (S1), 30 (S2) and 60 (S3) mM with three replications. Most of the fruit characteristics and physiology parameters like fruit weight and firmness, fruit length/diameter, photosynthesis rate, transpiration decreased with salinity. When grafted plants were used, physiological parameters improved in ‘Rkh’, ‘Rk’ at salinity compare with ‘Rn’. Transpiration decreased with salinity in Rkh and Rg and did not change in ‘Rn’. The highest transpiration was seen in ‘Rn’ in all salinity levels. Fruit quality is mostly improved at ‘Rg’ in salinity. TSS increased in ‘Rg’ and ‘Rkh’ in S2. Firmness decreased with S3 in ‘Rg’ and Rkh significantly. Na absorption was highest in ‘Rn’ and conversely, K concentration was lowest in ‘Rn’. Na concentration did not affect salinity levels in other rootstock and was lower than ‘Rn’. On the other hands, K concentration increased in ‘Rk’ and ‘Rkh’ in all salinity levels. Generally, using rootstocks like ‘Rk’, ‘Rkh’, and ‘Rg’ improved fruit quality and physiological aspect of grafted cucumber in saline soil.