Influence of planting patterns and exogenous ethylene application on fruit and seed in squash (Cucurbita pepo)

Mehrab Yadegari¹*, Gholamali Peyvast², Rahim Barzegar³ and Rahman Abdizade⁴

¹Islamic Azad University of Shahrekord Unit, Shahrekord Iran.

²Guilan University, Horticultural Department

³Center of Agronomy Education, Shahrekord Iran.

⁴Department of Agriculture, Azad University of Shahrekord Unit, Shahrekord Iran.

Corresponding Author E-mail: Mehrabyadegari@Gmail.com

ABSTRACT: In order to evaluate the distance cultivation effects and ethylene spray on fruit and seed production in squash, a field experiment was conducted in spring and summer, 2007. The factors were three dose of ethylene (0, 50 and 100 ppm of 2-Chloro-ethylphosphonic acid) and three density of planting (100*50 cm, 150*50cm and 200*50 cm). Evaluated characters in this research were seed yield and yield components including number of fruit per plant, number of seeds per fruit, 100 seeds weight. Although the combinations of 100ppm ethylene*100*50cm and 0ppm ethylene*100*50cm made the most number of fruit in area but the most of the weight of fruit (2831.4 kg/ha), weight of fresh seed (998.7kg/ha) made by 100ppm ethylene and 200*50cm density. Results showed that 100 ppm of ethylene and 200*50cm density was the best combination. Correlations between weight of fruit and weight of seed and number seed per fruit were positive and between weight of fruit and number fruit was negative.

KEYWORDS: Squash (Cucurbita pepo); planting density; Ethylene (2-Chloro-ethylphosphonic acid); yield

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