Abstract
Effects of 60 mM NaCl added into nutrient solution on the growth, concentrations of sugars, K, Na and Cl of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Asomidori No.5) fruits were studied. In 1992 (Expt. 1) and 1993 (Expt. 2) springs, cucumber plants were solution-cultured in a greenhouse. The aeration rate of the nutrient solution was low and high in Expts. 1 and 2, respectively. When the 10th leaf was expanding, 60 mM NaCl was added to the solution. Both in Expts. 1 and 2, the initial growth of fruits was enhanced by NaCl. Thereafter, fruit growth at 60 mM NaCl was markedly suppressed in Expt. 1, whereas it was not much affected in Expt. 2. In Expt. 1, hexose concentration of fruits at 60 mM NaCI decreased with the suppression of fruit growth, whereas it was not much affected in Expt. 2. Possible involvement of the shortage of photoassimilate supply in the fruit growth suppression under salinity was discussed.
