The Influence Of Priming Two Cucumber Cultivar Seeds

J. Duhok Univ. Vol.13, No.1, (Agri. And Vet. Sciences) Pp 36-48, 2010
(10-20ppm NAA) increased fruit yield due to the
more fruit retention and increased the size of
fruit, and also the increase in fruit weight which
might be due to hormone mediation, direct
transport and accumulation of photosynthesis in
the fruit, which resulted in better development of
the fruit. The results are in agreement with those
of (Antonio and Bettio, 2003; Ruth et al., 2006
and Stern et al., 2007).
For the effect of potassium on yield
properties, it was noticed from the obtained
results that potassium level increased
significantly tree yield, fruit fresh weight, pulp
weight, fruit size. The reason of this might be
interpreted that plants during flowering and fruit
setting stages were in critical demand of their
physiological activation which required a high
amount of potassium to perform the biological
processes, which helps increasing fruit weight,
size, flesh weight, pulps weight, number of fruits
per tree and total yield. (Awsthi et al., 1998)
showed that fruit yield and fruit weight of peach
fruits increased with increasing rate of
application up to 700 g K/tree, due to the role of
potassium influencing meristematic growth,
photosynthesis and activates a number of
enzymes, including those involved in the
synthesis of carbohydrates, and is also involved
in the neutralization of organic acids and the
promotion of normal cell division and growth.
These results are in parallel with
(Chatzitheodorou et al., 2004; Taylor,
2005; Ruiz, 2006 and Mimoun et al.,
2008). Also, Khan et al., (2000) concluded
that the highest fruit set was recorded in
Red haven peach trees fertilized with 1 kg
N and 1.2 kg each of P and K. as a result of
increasing chlorophyll content in leaf as
increasing potassium level in leaf which
leads to increase carbohydrate synthesis in
the leaf. Therefore potassium enhances fruit
quantity and quality and increases yields.
Also the table clearly shows that potassium
significantly increased fruit carbohydrate, juice,
TSS and carbohydrate content, the explanation
of this might be due to the role of potassium in
stimulation of enzyme responsible for
carbohydrate synthesis and energy production.
The reason behind high juice percentage in fruit
might be due to the role of potassium in
increasing total sugar and TSS in fruit juice and
activation of cell division, growth and its
expansion also help mobilization of
carbohydrate between parts of the plant
(Tucker, 1999). Whereas the total acidity was at
03
higher ratio in the control treatment which might
be due to the role of potassium in increasing
carbohydrate concentration which leads to
decrease acidity percentage (table 6). They are
also in confirm with the results of (Tagliavini
and Marangoni , 2002 and Mimoun et al.,
2008).
The obtained results revealed that iron
application also significantly improved yield
component. (Gobara, 1998) Demonstrated
that the beneficial effect of iron on
improving the nutritional status of the
trees in synthesis of various organic
compounds and activating both cell
division and enlargement which surly
reflected in improving the yield. Iron
performs a number of important functions in the
overall plant metabolism like other elements, it
functions both as a structural component and as a
cofactor for enzymatic reactions. Iron is a
transition metal, as it exists in more than one
oxidation state. Large portion of iron is found
to be associated with porphyries in the form of
cytochromes, which are necessary for the electron
transport system in mitochondria as well as
chloroplasts. Iron is the main component of
ferredoxin which is indispensable for the light
reaction of photosynthesis and nitrogen
fixation (Awad and Atawia, 1995A and Awad
et al., 2000B). Iron is involved as an active
factor in the structure of catalase, peroxidase,
oxidase and cytochrome enzymes which
facilitate the activation performance of many
physiological processes in plant cell. Similar
results were recorded in improved yield
component by ( Mukherji and Ghosh, 2005).
Also similar results are found in spraying
trees with Fe gave significantly increase
carbohydrate concentration, TSS, fruit
sugar, juice (Álvarez-Fernández et al.,2003
and Al-Aareji,2004).
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- Acquaah. G. (2005). Horticulture Principles and Practices.
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- AI-Aareji, J. M. A. (2004). Effect of foliar spray with
iron and manganese on quality and quantity of
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