The variation of cucumber quality depending on the hybrid and the fruit harvesting interval

The study evaluated the quality of cucumber production in relation to the hybrids and harvest interval. Five gynoecious cucumber hybrids were cultivated: Madrilene F1 (Seminis), Cantara F1, Kibria F1, Majestosa RZ F1 and Trilogy RZ F1 (Rjik Zwaan). An adequate watering and fertilization regime was ensured. Cucumbers were harvested daily, over a period of 67 days. The highest production of cucumbers was registered with the hybrid Madrilene F1 (Mad), 1034 kg/100 m(2), and the lowest production with the hybrid Trilogy RZ F1 (Tri), 778 kg/100 m(2) in Q1 quality classes (8-12 cm long). The Trilogy RZ F1 (Tri) hybrid had the best share of production in quality class Q1 (97.30%) among all the hybrids under the study conditions (97.10% for Cantara F1 hybrid in Q1; 96.95% for Kibria hybrid in Q1; 96.07% for Majestosa RZ F1 hybrid in Q1, and respectively 91.39% for Madrilene F1 hybrid in Q1). PC1 explained 83.538% of variance, and PC2 explained 7.4489% of variance for the quality class Q1. PC1 explained 59.126% of variance and PC2 explained 19.194% of variance for the quality class Q2.