Characterization of Blooming on Cucumber Fruits

Abstract

Abstract.A white powder-like substance, so called 'bloom', is formed on the surface of fruits of many varieties of cucumber. Although it is a natural phenomenon, bloomed fruits are accepted lower in quality compared to bloomless fruits by consumers. The experiments were conducted to obtain basic informations for breeding rootstocks, and to develop promising bloomless rootstocks from basic source materials collected and selected by seed company. The surfaces of bloomless fruits were appeared on the bladder cell of glandular trichome and the epicuticular waxes. Those of bloom fruits appeared with an injured bladder cell and many particles, which were not seen on those of bloomless fruits. The chromaticity was investigated on the surface of the bloom and the bloomless fruits. The 'a' and 'b' value of the bloom and the bloomless fruits did not show any significant difference. The 'L' value was significantly different and that of bloom fruits was higher than that of bloomless fruits. Fruit Si content was conspicuously lower in the fruits of cucumber plants grafted on the bloomless rootstock than in the fruits of those grafted on general bloom rootstocks.

Identification of Candidate Genes for Rind Color and Bloom Formation in Watermelon Fruits Based on a Quantitative Trait Locus-Seq

“…In contrast, BF on cucumber is responsible for reducing its marketability by making the surface shine and skin color appear pale. The main component of cucumber bloom is Si [ 38 , 39 ]. Bloomless cucumbers are mainly produced using pumpkin graft stocks, which have limited Si absorption from the roots [ 38 ].…”

The Formation of Fruit Quality in Cucumis sativus L.

“…Fruit size and shape are the two most obvious appearances of quality traits in cucumber, which had become one of the criterions for breeders to select high fruit quality cultivars. The external fruit qualities, such as the fruit skin and spine color, the presence or absence of the wax on the cucumber surface, and the number, shape, size, distribution, and density of fruit spines (trichomes on cucumber fruit are called spines), are also important fruit quality traits for cucumber production ( Choi et al, 2013 ; Li et al, 2013 ; Chen et al, 2014 ; Liu X. et al, 2016 ). In the late 1980s, the bloomless cucumber fruits are popular in Japan due to their distinct shiny appearance ( Ohara et al, 2006 ).…”

Characterization of the Lsi1 Homologs in Cucurbita moschata and C. ficifolia for Breeding of Stock Cultivars Used for Bloomless Cucumber Production

“…is used as a stock in grafting of cucumber for prevention of Fursarium wilt disease, maintenance of vegetative growth, and improvement of cold tolerance. For producing cucumbers exported to Japan, therefore, a specific type of pumpkin stock (bloomless stock) that prevents the cucumber fruit from blooming must be used (Seo et al, 2004;Choi et al, 2013). The seeds for bloomless stock are imported mainly from Japan, while no domestic stock cultivars are commercially available to date.…”