EFFECT OF HYGRO-PRIMING ON SEEDLING EMERGENCE, GROWTH AND YIELD OF CUCUMBER (Cucumis sativus L.)

An experiment was carried out between June – October 2023 at the Horticultural nursery, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Management, Federal University of Technology Minna to study the effect of hygro-priming on seedling emergence, growth and yield of Cucumber. Treatments consisted of three priming solutions (ordinary water at room temperature 20-23 ͦC, warm water at 45-50 ͦC and diluted acid (Distilled water + Ethanol + Naphthalene acetic acid) and five durations of dipping (0,10, 20, 30, and 40) minutes. These were arranged in a completely randomized design with 5 replications. Results indicated that the largest leaf area was observed from seeds primed with warm water at 10 minutes duration of dipping, This also had plants with the highest number of leaves, The results further revealed that ordinary water dipped for 10 minutes and diluted acid for 40 minutes had the longest vines The unprimed treatments however had the highest fruit yield. Based on the results obtained from the research work, hygro-priming with warm water at 45-50 ͦC and ordinary water at 20-23ͦ C for 10 minutes of dipping could therefore be recommended to farmers for desired fruit yield in Cucumber.