In-situ storage of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) fruits harvested at variable developmental stages for improving seed yield and quality

Field and laboratory studies were carried out to evaluate the impact of fruit harvest timing and in-situ storage duration on seed yield and quality in cucumber. Fruits were harvested at 30, 40, and 50 days after anthesis (DAA) with seeds extracted immediately or after 5, 10, and 15 days of in-situ storage. Results showed that delaying fruit harvest from 30 to 50 DAA and extending in-situ storage from 0 to 15 days significantly increased the percentage of developed seeds, seed weight per fruit, 100-seed weight, membrane stability index, germination rate, and seedling vigor index. Conversely, the percentage of undeveloped seeds and the relative water content of seeds decreased as the harvest stage was delayed and the in-situ storage duration increased. The study concluded that for optimal seed yield and quality in the cucumber variety Punjab Naveen, seeds should be extracted from fruits harvested at 50 DAA after 10 days of in-situ storage.