Abstract

This research was conducted to investigate the effects of silver ion, leaf stage and number of sprayings on sex expression and some traits related to fruit in greenhouse cucumber. Different concentrations of silver nitrate (AgNO3) (100, 200 and 300 ppm) and nano particle of silver (50, 150 and 200 ppm) were applied at 5, 10 and 15-leaf stages with single and double sprays. The experiment was conducted as a factorial based on a completely randomized block design with three replications. Analysis of variance showed silver application caused significant difference on all of the studied traits, except for the fruit length, fruit weight and fruit number per pickling. The number of sprayings and leaf stage showed significant difference on the number of male flower, node number of male flower, diameter of male flower, number of female node, number of male node, number of male and female node, period of male flowering and fruit weight per pickling. The highest values for the number of male flower, male node, period of male flowering and the number of male and female flower were obtained at 15-leaf stage. The highest mean for male flower number, male flower diameter, normal fruit, days to male flower initiation, the number of male node and the number of fruit per pickling were achieved at 300 ppm of AgNO3. This study showed that male flower induction was influenced more by AgNO3 than nano-silver particles. The highest number of male node achieved at 200 ppm of nano-silver. The interaction effect of dose of 200 ppm of nano-silver at 15-leaf stage produced, the highest number of male flower. So, use of nano-silver may be preferred to AgNO3 in organic agriculture.