Are Fruit Cucumbers Genetically Modified? The Latest Truth Explained
The fruit cucumber is an annual climbing plant of the genus Cucumis in the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae). The fruit is 12 to 15 cm long and about 3 cm in diameter, usually has no spines on the skin, and has a sweet taste. It is mainly eaten raw. As a new vegetable variety, it was welcomed by the market as soon as it appeared, and it is now cultivated throughout China. Let us take a look below at whether fruit cucumbers are genetically modified!
Are fruit cucumbers genetically modified?
Fruit cucumbers are not genetically modified. Spineless cucumbers are deeply loved by consumers for their good taste, delicious flavor and excellent quality, and market demand has expanded year by year. Fruit cucumbers contain sugars, a variety of amino acids, carotene, vitamins and minerals such as calcium, phosphorus and iron. Among these, their vitamin B content is twice that of watermelon, and their vitamin C content is five times that of watermelon. They help lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and also offer benefits such as weight loss and beauty care.
How to identify genetically modified foods
1. Season: apart from greenhouse vegetables, other off-season foods are likely to be genetically modified.
2. Color: anything different from the traditional color is definitely genetically modified, such as colored cotton and colored peppers.
3. Size: traditionally, tomatoes also come in a certain size; for example, small tomatoes only as big as a thumb tip are definitely genetically modified.
4. Taste: traditional corn is generally yellow corn or white corn with a slight sweetness, while the sweet corn popular now is extremely sweet, so it is undoubtedly genetically modified.
5. Pests: any crop that pests like to visit is not genetically modified, while any crop that pests fear, meaning it has no pests or very few pests, is genetically modified.
6. Yield: genetically modified crops generally have a considerably higher yield than traditional crops in the first few years.
Cultivation techniques for fruit cucumbers
1. Temperature: for spring planting, use a large greenhouse with a small arched tunnel inside to keep warm and prevent freezing, and control the greenhouse temperature at 28-30°C to promote growth and strive for early fruiting and an early market launch. In autumn, cover with shade netting early on, covering on sunny days and uncovering on cloudy days, and cover with agricultural film in the middle and late periods to keep warm and prevent cold.
2. Water: in the early spring period (before the end of March), water less to prevent excessive moisture and slow soil temperature rise; in the middle and late periods, water frequently, keeping the soil alternately dry and moist. After autumn planting, water once more during the seedling recovery period to help survival. In the early period, temperatures are high and evaporation is great, so watering should be frequent; in the later period, control watering and strengthen ventilation to prevent excessive humidity in the greenhouse from causing disease.
3. Light: fruit cucumbers are fairly tolerant of weak light. In summer and autumn, when temperatures and light intensity are high, shade netting should be added, and vines should be trellised in time to improve ventilation and light conditions. Remove old leaves to increase light use efficiency and raise yield.
4. Fertilization: fertilize together with watering. During the peak fruiting period, apply fertilizer alternately with watering, following the principle of “small meals, more often” when topdressing. In the middle and late periods, root nutrient uptake weakens, so spray a 0.2-0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution on the leaves for foliar topdressing to prevent premature aging of the plants.
5. Diseases and pests: for downy mildew, spray DuPont Curzate 1500 times solution, metalaxyl mancozeb 500 times solution, etc. promptly at the early stage of onset, once every 5 to 7 days, and switch agents after 2 to 3 applications. For bacterial angular leaf spot, spray Kocide 2000 times solution at the early stage of onset. Damping-off often occurs at the seedling stage, so spray thiophanate-methyl 800 to 1000 times solution in time. For cucumber webworm, spray Nongdile 2000 times solution or use avermectin for control. For viral diseases, focus on controlling aphids.
6. Harvest: fruit cucumbers grow quickly and should be harvested and brought to market in time. If harvested too late, the fruits become thick and large and their quality is poorer. Generally, leave no fruit or few fruits near the base, so as to promote plant growth and produce more fruits.