Testing variety of cucumber F1 Ciborg, F1 Bavarets in LIT crop culture

Abstract

Relevance. The most popular cucumber in Russia is pickling type (lenght 10-12 cm). There are not a lot of varieties this type cucumber for high wire and LIT crop in Russian seeds market.Methods. Were tested russian varieties F1 Ciborg, F1 Bavarets (Gavrish company) in compare F1 Bjorn (Enza Zaden, Netherlands) – the most popular in Russia now. Russian customer prefer pickling type because of traditional Russian cuisine. Prices of pickling type cucumber at autumn-winter time in 1-1.5 times more than middle size type cucumber. We had artificial light 240 Wt/sq.m, sodium lamps, our substrate was rockwool – Belagro (company from Belarusian republic). This rockwool have normal quality for short crop (3-4 month for growing cucumber), our plant density 2.76 plant/sq.m it was optimal for our light conditions (natural light in our region and artificial light).Results. Fourteen days after we put plants on slabs we had problems with plants of both russian varieties (F1 Ciborg and F1 Bavarets). We saw yellow parts in leaves, decrease length of stems, lost flowers. We made a decision about too high level of artificial light. We had only one opportunity for decrease it switch off 50% of lamps. We made it and we had 120 Wt/sq.m that. Therefore, we spent 50% less electricity for russian varieties. We think varieties F1 Ciborg and F1 Bavarets not very good for winter crop and we had good results because in our situation we have winter-spring crop, and every day the part of artificial light decrease and the part of natural light increase. F1 Ciborg had a problem with CGMMV and was deleted in 24th week of 2020. But we suppose it depend from a lot of conditions: quality of labor, protection plants. We think it is necessary more additional research. Total yield (for ten weeks of harvesting in winter-spring crop) F1 Bavarets – 32.4 kg/sq.m., F1 Ciborg – 31.9 kg/sq.m more then had F1 Bjorn – 28.9 kg/sq.m. The best marketable condition was F1 Ciborg, the second F1 Bjorn.