[Adaptability of cucumber plug seedlings to daytime temperature]

Area of Science:

• Horticulture and Plant Physiology
• Agricultural Science
• Environmental Plant Science

Context:

• Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) plug seedlings are crucial for commercial production.
• Optimizing seedling quality requires understanding environmental growth factors.
• Daytime temperature is a critical factor influencing early plant development.

Purpose:

• To investigate the impact of varying daytime temperatures on cucumber plug seedling growth and quality.
• To identify optimal temperature ranges for cucumber seedling development.
• To analyze seedling responses using various growth and physiological parameters.

Summary:

• Cucumber seedlings were grown under controlled phytotron conditions with daytime temperatures ranging from 15°C to 30°C (night temperature constant at 15°C).
• Key growth metrics including hypocotyl dimensions, leaf size, dry matter accumulation, moisture content, and chlorophyll fluorescence were measured.
• Seedling quality was highest at 24°C daytime/15°C nighttime, with significant reductions observed at both higher (27-30°C) and lower (15-18°C) temperatures.

Impact:

• Identifies specific temperature thresholds affecting cucumber seedling vigor.
• Provides data-driven recommendations for greenhouse temperature management in cucumber cultivation.
• Contributes to improving propagation efficiency and crop establishment in controlled environments.