PRUNING: A MECHANICAL STRESS INDUCING METHOD TO IMPROVE GROWTH AND YIELD OF BANGLADESHI LOCAL CUCUMBER VARIETY “BAROMASHI”

The research was performed to the Horticultural farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period of April 2006 to July 2006 to observe the effect of pruning on the Bangladeshi local cucumber variety “Baromashi”. Three pruning treatments (control: no pruning, P₁: pruning to three primary branches, P₂: pruning to five primary branches) were used to see the vegetative growth, flowering pattern and yield-related characters of cucumber plants. Pruning increased the number of primary and secondary branches of cucumber plants however; pruning had negative effect on the stem elongation. It was also found that intensive pruning (P₂: pruning to five primary branches) enhanced the number of primary and secondary branches than the light pruning. Adversely, pruning decreased the number of node for 1^st female flower. Time requirement for flowering had negative effect with pruning but pruning showed positive effect on the total male and female flowers. Although pruning had no effect on the green cucumber fruits harvesting, fruit characteristics like individual fruit length, fruit girth and fruit weight were increased in P₂ treatment compare to the P₁ and control treatment. These results were also reflected the total yield of cucumber fruits and significantly increased after pruning.