Detailed Explanation of the Causes of Deformed Cucumbers and Their Control Methods
Causes and Control Methods of Deformed Cucumbers
The formation of deformed cucumbers greatly affects their market quality and economic returns. To solve this problem, we referred to relevant materials, carried out several years of research and investigation, and have explored and compiled several common causes of deformed cucumbers and their control measures.
1. Pointed-tip cucumber
Pointed-tip cucumber, also called pointed-mouth cucumber, is a common type among deformed cucumbers. It is mainly caused by the following factors.
① The cucumber has weak parthenocarpy and the female flowers are not fertilized during the flowering period. Because varieties with weak parthenocarpy generally have difficulty developing into fruit on their own, and because the female flowers are not fertilized, seeds cannot form in the fruit, and the driving force that promotes the transport of nutrients to the fruit is lacking, thus causing poor nutrition at the tip of the fruit and forming a pointed-tip cucumber.
Control measures: Create good pollination conditions during the cucumber flowering period, such as releasing bees or hand pollination.
② In the early stage of plant growth, insufficient nitrogen fertilizer supply makes the plant stems thin and tough, and the fruit may also develop into pointed-tip cucumbers.
Control: Apply fertilizers with a relatively high nitrogen content, such as urea.
③ The plant has weak growth vigor, especially in the late stage of fruit expansion, and insufficient fertilizer and water, so the fruit cannot receive normal nutrient supply, ensuring that sufficient mineral nutrients are transported to the fruit.
2. Big-belly cucumber
This is also a common type of deformed cucumber. The main causes of its formation are:
① The female flowers of the cucumber are incompletely fertilized, and seeds are produced only at the tip of the fruit, causing nutrients to accumulate at the tip, which leads to particularly enlarged flesh tissue at the tip, forming a big-belly cucumber.
Control: Create good conditions for flowering and pollination.
② A potassium deficiency in the plant combined with excessive nitrogen fertilizer supply can also produce big-belly cucumbers.
Control measures: Apply potassium nitrate, plant ash, etc. to the soil, or spray the plant leaves with a 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution.
③ Water shortage in the early stage of cucumber growth and a large amount of water supply in the later stage can also produce big-belly cucumbers. This is because water has a strong effect on cell elongation or hypertrophic growth. When water is lacking, cells grow slowly; when a large amount of water is supplied, cells develop rapidly.
Control measures: Supply water evenly throughout the entire growth period, keep the soil moist, and avoid excessive drought and water shortage or flooding irrigation.
3. Curved cucumber
① The cucumber is incompletely fertilized, and only the egg cells on one side of the ovary are fertilized, resulting in unbalanced development of the entire fruit and forming a curved cucumber.
② During the cucumber growth period, curved cucumbers are produced under the influence of factors such as high temperature, high humidity, and adverse climate.
Control technique: Take a toothpick and insert it into the cucumber vine at the position where the curved fruit is produced, then water immediately. The next day the fruit can straighten, and at this time pull out the thin toothpick; the cucumber can still grow normally.
③ During the growth process of the cucumber, the fruit is blocked by foreign objects and cannot extend normally, resulting in deformed curvature.
Control: After the cucumber sets fruit, remove the foreign objects blocking the growth and development of the cucumber, so that the cucumber can extend normally.
4. Wasp-waist cucumber
① Similar to the formation of curved cucumbers, incomplete pollination of cucumber female flowers also easily develops into wasp-waist cucumbers.
② After cucumber pollination, insufficient nutrient supply in the plant, low dry matter accumulation, and insufficient nutrient distribution also easily cause cucumbers to develop into wasp-waist cucumbers.
Control methods: Strengthen plant nutrition, especially increase fertilizer and water supply during the fruit-setting period, to ensure sufficient nutrient accumulation. In addition, for curved cucumbers or wasp-waist cucumbers, hormone treatment can be used to make the cucumber fruit grow straight. Commonly used hormones are: 2,4-D, with a concentration of 0.01%-0.1% being preferable; GA, with a concentration of 50 mg/kg being preferable. Treatment method: Apply by smearing or spraying within 3 days before cucumber flowering, with treatment on the day of flowering being best.
1. Pointed-tip cucumber
Pointed-tip cucumber, also called pointed-mouth cucumber, is a common type among deformed cucumbers. It is mainly caused by the following factors.
① The cucumber has weak parthenocarpy and the female flowers are not fertilized during the flowering period. Because varieties with weak parthenocarpy generally have difficulty developing into fruit on their own, and because the female flowers are not fertilized, seeds cannot form in the fruit, and the driving force that promotes the transport of nutrients to the fruit is lacking, thus causing poor nutrition at the tip of the fruit and forming a pointed-tip cucumber.
Control measures: Create good pollination conditions during the cucumber flowering period, such as releasing bees or hand pollination.
② In the early stage of plant growth, insufficient nitrogen fertilizer supply makes the plant stems thin and tough, and the fruit may also develop into pointed-tip cucumbers.
Control: Apply fertilizers with a relatively high nitrogen content, such as urea.
③ The plant has weak growth vigor, especially in the late stage of fruit expansion, and insufficient fertilizer and water, so the fruit cannot receive normal nutrient supply, ensuring that sufficient mineral nutrients are transported to the fruit.
2. Big-belly cucumber
This is also a common type of deformed cucumber. The main causes of its formation are:
① The female flowers of the cucumber are incompletely fertilized, and seeds are produced only at the tip of the fruit, causing nutrients to accumulate at the tip, which leads to particularly enlarged flesh tissue at the tip, forming a big-belly cucumber.
Control: Create good conditions for flowering and pollination.
② A potassium deficiency in the plant combined with excessive nitrogen fertilizer supply can also produce big-belly cucumbers.
Control measures: Apply potassium nitrate, plant ash, etc. to the soil, or spray the plant leaves with a 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution.
③ Water shortage in the early stage of cucumber growth and a large amount of water supply in the later stage can also produce big-belly cucumbers. This is because water has a strong effect on cell elongation or hypertrophic growth. When water is lacking, cells grow slowly; when a large amount of water is supplied, cells develop rapidly.
Control measures: Supply water evenly throughout the entire growth period, keep the soil moist, and avoid excessive drought and water shortage or flooding irrigation.
3. Curved cucumber
① The cucumber is incompletely fertilized, and only the egg cells on one side of the ovary are fertilized, resulting in unbalanced development of the entire fruit and forming a curved cucumber.
② During the cucumber growth period, curved cucumbers are produced under the influence of factors such as high temperature, high humidity, and adverse climate.
Control technique: Take a toothpick and insert it into the cucumber vine at the position where the curved fruit is produced, then water immediately. The next day the fruit can straighten, and at this time pull out the thin toothpick; the cucumber can still grow normally.
③ During the growth process of the cucumber, the fruit is blocked by foreign objects and cannot extend normally, resulting in deformed curvature.
Control: After the cucumber sets fruit, remove the foreign objects blocking the growth and development of the cucumber, so that the cucumber can extend normally.
4. Wasp-waist cucumber
① Similar to the formation of curved cucumbers, incomplete pollination of cucumber female flowers also easily develops into wasp-waist cucumbers.
② After cucumber pollination, insufficient nutrient supply in the plant, low dry matter accumulation, and insufficient nutrient distribution also easily cause cucumbers to develop into wasp-waist cucumbers.
Control methods: Strengthen plant nutrition, especially increase fertilizer and water supply during the fruit-setting period, to ensure sufficient nutrient accumulation. In addition, for curved cucumbers or wasp-waist cucumbers, hormone treatment can be used to make the cucumber fruit grow straight. Commonly used hormones are: 2,4-D, with a concentration of 0.01%-0.1% being preferable; GA, with a concentration of 50 mg/kg being preferable. Treatment method: Apply by smearing or spraying within 3 days before cucumber flowering, with treatment on the day of flowering being best.