GROWTH AND YIELD OF CUCUMBER VARIETIES AS INFLUENCED BY PRUNING AT ABAKALIKI AGRICULTURAL AREA, SOUTHEASTERN NIGERIA

The effect of pruning on the growth and yield of four cucumber varieties was evaluated using a 4 x 2 factorial laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Market more 76, Marketer and Point-sett varieties produced significantly (p<0.05) higher total and marketable yield than Market more 70. Similar trend was observed for total and marketable fruit weight, and marketable fruit number per plant. Significant differences in some vegetative growth parameters were found between the cucumber varieties. Market more 76 and Marketer varieties had similar but significantly (p<0.01) shorter days to 50% anthesis than Market more 70 followed by Point-sett. Marketer had significantly (p<0.05) longer stem length than the other cucumber varieties. Market more 76 and Marketer varieties produced similar, but significantly (p<0.05) higher number of branches per plant than Market more 70 and Point Sett. Significant differences (p<0.05) in terms of yield and yield components were found between the two pruning treatments. The no pruning treatment produced the highest total yield and total fruit number per plant. The pruning treatment produced the highest marketable fruit yield, total and marketable fruit weight, and marketable fruit number per plant. Pruning significantly (p<0.05) affected the days to 50% anthesis and stem length. Unpruned cucumber varieties took shorter days of 26 for the 50% of the plants to flower while pruned cucumber varieties produced longer stem lengths of 18.46 than the non pruned treatment.