SEEDLING GROWTH AND FRUIT SET AND QUALITY OF CUCUMBER AS AFFECTED BY TRIAZOLE CHEMICALS

Several triazole chemicals, sprayed onto cucumber seedlings at the first true leaf stage, were effective in slowing down the excessive outgrowth of seedlings and in increasing the chlorophyll content in the leaves, thus resulting in more compact and healthier seedlings. Fruit quality was not influenced by triazole chemicals even though the number of pistillate flowers was markedly affected by the kind of triazole chemicals used. Bitertanol at 1,000 ppm was found promising for producing steadier and healthier seedlings with more pistillate flowers per plant without influencing the fruit yield and quality.