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Cytomorphological Evaluation of Three Different Forms (Devraj, Long Spl. and Local) of Cultivated Cucumber, Cucumis sativus L.

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Abstract

Three different forms of cultivated cucumber, viz. Cucumis sativus L. var. sativus (Devraj, Long Spl. and Local), were studied for morphological parameters, reproductive efficiency and reduction divisions in male track. Analysis of these three forms for 17 morphological characters and three pollination experiments (OP = open pollination, HSP = hand self-pollination, HCP = hand cross-pollination) depicts that Long Spl. form has high %age fruit set, as also longer and healthier fruits as compared to Devraj and Local form. Cytologically, Long Spl. form has PMCs (pollen mother cells) with 14 chromosomes forming seven perfect bivalents at metaphase I, while in Devraj and Local forms of C. sativus L., hyperploids (8.51%) and hypoploid PMCs (2.12%) were also observed in addition to normal euploid cells. Local and Long Spl. cultivars are peculiar in nature having 5–8% PMCs with quadrivalent, 4–5% with hexavalents and 16–18% with abnormal chromosomal segregation. Pollen stainability was found to be low in Local and Devraj forms as compared to Long Spl. In view of current observations, it is proposed that cultivars should be evaluated reproductively and cytologically so that cytologically stable cultivars with high %age fruit set, healthy fruits and high fruit weight could be recommended for cultivation.

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Acknowledgements

One of the authors 1 is thankful to the UGC-SAP for financial assistance.

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  1. Department of Botany, University of Jammu, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, 180006, India

    Priya Sharma, Mamta Sharma, Jayoti Devi & Namrata Sharma

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  1. Priya Sharma
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  2. Mamta Sharma
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  3. Jayoti Devi
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  4. Namrata Sharma
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Correspondence to Priya Sharma.

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Significance Statement: All three cultivars of Cucumis sativus L. var. sativus are cytologically stable showing normal chromosome number (2n=14) in maximum pollen mother cells in spite of having abnormalities in few PMCs. But high fruit set, fruit weight and fruit length in Long Spl. form than the other two forms make it more favourable for cultivation on large scale.

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Sharma, P., Sharma, M., Devi, J. et al. Cytomorphological Evaluation of Three Different Forms (Devraj, Long Spl. and Local) of Cultivated Cucumber, Cucumis sativus L.. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., India, Sect. B Biol. Sci. 92, 293–300 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-021-01333-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-021-01333-z

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