Effect of Breeding on the Growth and Yield of Cucumis sativus (L.)

Hybridization was carried out on two varieties of cucumber namely: Darina cultivar and Local Slicing variety to raise F1 to investigate the effect of hybridization on the growth and yield of the cucumber as shown in parental plants compared with the F1 hybrid. This was done using standard methods. Randomised Complete Block Design was used with three replications. Data were collected on the germination percentage (%), number of days to 50% germination, number of days to 50% flowering, number of days to 100% maturity, vine length, number of fresh fruit/plant and weight of fresh fruit/plant. Results were analysed using ANOVA. Results showed that the parental and the F1 hybrid plants differed in the growth and yield parameters. The F1 hybrid had the lowest number of days to 100% maturity (47.33±2.51) and the highest vine length (113.00±1.00) when compared to the parental plants. The highest number of fruits (5.67± 0.58) was also recorded for the F1 hybrid. Results of this study revealed that the F1 hybrid combined the characteristics of the Darina cucumber and the Local Slicing cucumber and also had improved characters. This can be seen in the growth parameters values of the F1 hybrid which are at the intermediate between those of the parents. Also, the highest vine length and the highest number of fruits/plant shown by the F1 hybrid. The obtained data thus indicated that breeding could significantly enhance growth and yield in cucumber plant production.