Assessment of Growing Media and Fertigation for Production of Root Pruning Splice-Grafted Cucumber Seedlings

• Published in: Weon'ye gwahag gi'sulji Vol. 39; no. 3; pp. 294 - 304
• Main Authors: Jeong, Hyeon Woo, Lee, Hye Ri, Kim, Ju Yeon, Kim, Gam Gon, Hwang, Seung Jae
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 한국원예학회HST 01.01.2021; 한국원예학회
• Subjects: 농학; root surface; root development; terra-plug; bottle gourd; root volume
• ISSN: 1226-8763; 2465-8588
• DOI: 10.7235/HORT.20210026

In the Republic of Korea, the root pruning splice-grafting method is commonly used on watermelon(Citrullus lanatus) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus) seedlings to produce grafted plants. Thegrowing medium is an important factor for rooting a transplant. In this study, we investigated theshoot growth and root development of cucumber seedlings in different growing media. ‘Shindong’cucumber seedlings as scions were grafted onto ‘Shingiwon’ bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria)seedlings as rootstocks using the root-pruning one-cotyledon splice-grafting method. The graftedseedlings were transplanted into five different media: commercial growing medium (CGM), rockwool(RW), LC grow foam (LC), RC grow foam (RC), and terra-plug (TP). We also investigated theeffect of fertigation on plant growth in the different media. Root morphology was significantlyinfluenced by all five media. The total root length, root volume, and root surface area were greatestin the CGM. However, inorganic media (RW, LC, and RC) resulted in low root growth. Fertigationincreased root growth, especially in the CGM. Root growth affected the shoot growth of cucumberseedlings. The shoot growth of cucumber seedlings was greatest in the CGM and TP medium,which also had good root development. In conclusion, CGM with fertigation was advantageous forcucumber root development and growth, and TP showed promise for use as a growing medium inthe seedling stage. KCI Citation Count: 0