Gherkin cultivation in saline medium using seeds treated with a biostimulant

ABSTRACT. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a biostimulant on gherkin seeds, cultivar Liso de Calcutá, under conditions of salt stress. A split-plot experimental design with five replications was used; the main plot was represented by two levels of irrigation water salinity (0.5 and 3.5 dS m-1), and the subplot was composed of five biostimulant doses applied as a seed treatment (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 mL kg-1). The following variables were evaluated: the number of leaves; number of branches; length of the largest branch; leaf, stem, fruit and total dry matter; number of fruits; average fruit weight; and fruit production. The values of all analyzed variables decreased with an increase in irrigation water salinity regardless of the biostimulant dose, but in the absence of salt stress, biostimulant use led to an increase in the number of leaves and branches, the length of the largest branch and biomass accumulation. Biostimulation was not effective in reducing the effects of salinity on gherkin production, but it increased fruit production regardless of the salinity level.

摘要。本研究旨在评估盐胁迫条件下，生物刺激素（biostimulant）对品种为Liso de Calcutá的嫩黄瓜种子的影响。本试验采用裂区试验设计，设置5次重复；主区为两个灌溉水盐度水平（0.5与3.5 dS·m⁻¹），副区为5种以种子处理方式施用的生物刺激素剂量（0、5、10、15、20 mL·kg⁻¹）。本研究测定的指标包括：叶片数、分枝数、最长分枝长度、叶片干物质、茎干物质、果实干物质及总干物质、结果数、平均单果质量与果实产量。无论施用何种剂量的生物刺激素，所有测定指标的数值均随灌溉水盐度升高而降低；但在无盐胁迫条件下，施用生物刺激素可提升叶片数、分枝数、最长分枝长度及生物量积累量。生物刺激素未能有效缓解盐胁迫对嫩黄瓜产量的负面影响，但无论盐度水平如何，其均可提升果实产量。