NCSU Cucumber Breeding Report - 2003
Todd C. Wehner
Professor
Tammy L. Ellington
Agric. Res. Tech. III
Department of Horticultural Science
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7609
Pickling Cucumbers
Brinestock Evaluation
Spring (Stage 3) Pickle Trial
Todd C. Wehner and Tammy L. Ellingtonz
Department of Horticultural Science
North Carolina State University
Introduction
Cucumbers from harvests 1, 3 and 5 of the stage 3 spring pickling cucumber
trial were each placed in one brine tank at Mt. Olive Pickle Co. The tanks
were purged with nitrogen to remove excess carbon dioxide from the brine.
Methods
The cultigens (cultivars and breeding lines) were evaluated for fruit quality
(shape, external color, texture, seedcell size, and lot uniformity), firmness,
bloaters, and other defects in October. Quality was evaluated by judges from
industry: Phil Denlinger, Bob Quinn, Tim Smith, and Nick Flores (Mt. Olive),
Eddie Quill, JW Jackson, and Harry Newsome (Dean Foods), Curtiss Cates and
John Cates, (Addis Cates Co.), Chris Ware (Harris Moran), and Mike Cain
(Sunseeds).
Fruit quality was evaluated using a rating system (that approximated letter
grades) from 1 to 9, where 9 = A+, 8 = A, 7 = A-, 6 = B+, 5 = B, 4 = B-, 3 = C,
2 = D, 1 = F. Bloaters and defects were measured as percentage of fruits with
damage in a sample of 20 grade 3B fruits. Firmness was measured by punching 10
grade 2B fruits with a Magness-Taylor tester (having a 5/16" diameter tip). All
cultigens were randomized, replicated and coded to prevent bias and provide a
measure of error variance.
Results
The cultigens are presented in order by decreasing fruit quality in Table 1, and
are ranked for resistance to bloaters and defects in Tables 2 and 3, respectively.
Fruit texture and firmness rankings are in Table 4. The average quality ratings
assigned by each judge in the test are presented in Table 5, showing how lenient
each judge was relative to the others. Because of low bloater incidence, the
bloater data showed few significant differences among cultigens.
Summary
- The cultigens with best fruit quality in brinestock were NC-Davie, H-19,
G5xNC-54, NC-Duplin, NC-Linda, G5xNC-55, SRQP-2982, Raleigh, G5xNC-57, and
SRQP-3146.
- Most cultigens were bloater resistant due to a low incidence of bloaters.
- The firmest cultigens were NC-Lexington (parthenocarpic), NC-Linda, H-19,
NC-Longhurst, NC-Lexington, NC-Davie, G5xNC-57, and G4xNC-57.
- As usual, brinestock firmness (from the punch test) was only partially
correlated with texture (subjective rating from the judges), so the two
traits are measurements of different aspects of cucumber fruit firmness.
- Judges ranged from Apol who assigned the highest quality ratings to
Ware who assigned the lowest. Analysis of variance indicated significant
differences among judges for the way they rated fruit quality. However,
interaction of judge with cultigen was non-significant (all judges gave
good cultigens high ratings, and bad cultigens low ratings).____________________________
z Thanks to Mt. Olive Pickle Co., Mt. Olive, N.C. for assistance in brining the
cucumbers, and for providing the facilities for evaluating the cultigens tested.
Thanks also to the personnel at the Horticultural Crops Research Station,
Clinton, N.C. for help in running the field trials.
Table 1. Brinestock evaluation - quality ratings (cultigens are ranked by
average quality).z
_________________________________________________________________________________
Cultivar Seed Average Extrnal Text- Seed Uniform-
Rank or line source quality Shape color ure cell ity
_________________________________________________________________________________
1 Davie(54x55) 02GH1616x1617 5.6 5.2 5.5 6.0 5.9 5.5
2 H-19 Seminis 5.6 5.9 5.4 5.3 5.4 6.1
3 G5xNC-54 02GH938x852 5.6 5.3 4.9 6.0 6.1 5.8
4 Duplin(56x57) 02GH1618x1619 5.5 5.1 5.6 5.8 5.6 5.7
5 Linda(67x69) 02GH1608x161 5.5 4.9 6.3 4.9 5.3 5.9
6 G5xNC-55 02GH1627x1630 5.4 5.1 6.0 5.2 5.2 5.8
7 SRQP-2982 SunSeeds 5.4 5.3 6.0 4.9 5.1 5.7
8 Raleigh NCState Univ. 5.4 5.2 5.6 5.5 5.2 5.4
9 G5xNC-57 02GH1628x1631 5.4 5.0 5.6 5.4 5.3 5.6
10 SRQP-3146 SunSeeds 5.4 5.2 6.3 4.9 5.0 5.5
11 SRQP-2860 SunSeeds 5.3 4.7 6.0 5.3 5.4 5.4
12 Lexingtn66x69 02GH1607x1610 5.3 5.2 5.3 5.3 5.2 5.6
13 LexingtonPrth 02GH1607x1610 5.3 5.2 4.1 5.4 5.6 6.2
14 HMX-2478 Harris Moran 5.3 4.8 5.4 5.3 5.4 5.4
15 M 21 NCState Univ. 5.3 4.6 5.7 5.0 5.6 5.4
16 Johnston NCState Univ. 5.3 4.5 5.8 5.4 5.4 5.2
17 Longhrst68x69 02GH1609x1610 5.2 4.8 5.7 4.8 5.1 5.8
18 G4xNC-57 02GH932x941 5.2 4.8 5.3 5.2 5.1 5.4
19 HMX-1477 Harris Moran 5.2 4.6 5.7 5.0 5.4 5.1
20 Napoleon SunSeeds 5.1 4.6 5.7 5.1 5.1 5.1
21 G5xNC-52 02GH1626x1629 5.1 4.8 6.0 4.4 4.7 5.8
22 SRQP-2752 SunSeeds 5.1 4.6 5.5 5.3 5.3 4.9
23 HMX-2479 Harris Moran 5.1 4.9 5.3 4.9 5.0 5.4
24 G4xNC-53 02GH1621x1624 5.1 4.6 5.4 5.1 4.8 5.3
25 SVR4506143 Seminis 5.0 4.2 5.0 5.3 5.1 5.4
26 G4xNC-56 02GH1622x1625 5.0 4.5 4.7 5.3 4.9 5.4
27 G4xNC-52 02GH1620x1623 4.8 3.9 4.9 5.3 4.8 5.4
28 Moriah(71x73) 02GH1584x1585 4.8 3.8 6.1 4.8 4.4 4.9
29 Merritt(70x72 02GH1582x1583 4.7 3.4 6.2 4.5 4.5 4.9
30 Calypso NCState Univ. 4.7 4.5 4.6 4.8 4.5 5.1
31 Wis.SMR 18 Univ. Wis. 4.2 3.9 3.5 4.6 4.6 4.4
_________________________________________________________________________________
LSD (5%) 0.4 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.5
Mean 5.2 4.7 5.4 5.2 5.2 5.4
CV (%) 16 26 18 24 26 21
_________________________________________________________________________________
z Quality rated 1 to 9 (9=A+, 8=A, 7=A-, 6=B+, 5=B, 4=B-, 3=C, 2=D, 1=F).
Correlation (Shape with Uniformity) = 0.80**
Correlation (Texture with Seedcell) = 0.94**
Table 2. Brinestock evaluation - percentage of fruit damaged by bloaters
(cultigens are ranked by balloon bloater resistance).
_________________________________________________________________________________
Cultivar Seed Total Honey-
Rank or line source bloaters Balloon Lens comb
_________________________________________________________________________________
1 G5xNC-55 02GH1627x1630 0 0 0 0
2 LexingtonPrth 02GH1607x1610 0 0 0 0
3 G4xNC-53 02GH1621x1624 0 0 0 0
4 G4xNC-56 02GH1622x1625 0 0 0 0
5 M 21 NCState Univ. 0 0 0 0
6 Duplin(56x57) 02GH1618x1619 0 0 0 0
7 Merritt(70x72 02GH1582x1583 0 0 0 0
8 Linda(67x69) 02GH1608x161 1 0 0 1
9 H-19 Seminis 1 0 0 1
10 SRQP-2752 SunSeeds 1 0 0 1
11 Davie(54x55) 02GH1616x1617 0 0 0 0
12 Lexingtn66x69 02GH1607x1610 0 0 0 0
13 Johnston NCState Univ. 0 0 0 0
14 Moriah(71x73) 02GH1584x1585 0 0 0 0
15 Wis.SMR 18 Univ. Wis. 0 0 0 0
16 G5xNC-57 02GH1628x1631 0 0 0 0
17 G4xNC-57 02GH932x941 0 0 0 0
18 G4xNC-52 02GH1620x1623 0 0 0 0
19 Longhrst68x69 02GH1609x1610 1 0 0 0
20 Calypso NCState Univ. 1 0 0 0
21 G5xNC-54 02GH938x852 1 1 0 0
22 Raleigh NCState Univ. 1 1 0 0
23 Napoleon SunSeeds 1 1 1 0
24 SVR4506143 Seminis 1 1 1 0
25 HMX-2478 Harris Moran 2 1 1 0
26 G5xNC-52 02GH1626x1629 1 1 0 0
27 SRQP-2982 SunSeeds 1 1 0 0
28 HMX-2479 Harris Moran 2 2 0 0
29 SRQP-3146 SunSeeds 2 2 0 0
30 HMX-1477 Harris Moran 3 2 0 1
31 SRQP-2860 SunSeeds 3 3 0 0
_________________________________________________________________________________
LSD (5%) 2 1 1 1
Mean 3 1 0 0
CV (%) 123 143 455 301
_________________________________________________________________________________
Table 3. Brinestock evaluation - percentage of fruit damaged by defects
(cultigens are ranked by resistance to defects).
_________________________________________________________________________________
Blossom-
Cultivar Seed Total Placental end Soft
Rank or line source defects hollows defects centers
_________________________________________________________________________________
1 LexingtonPrth 02GH1607x1610 0 0 0 0
2 Johnston NCState Univ. 0 0 0 0
3 G5xNC-54 02GH938x852 0 0 0 0
4 Raleigh NCState Univ. 0 0 0 0
5 Lexingtn66x69 02GH1607x1610 0 0 0 0
6 Moriah(71x73) 02GH1584x1585 1 0 0 1
7 Longhrst68x69 02GH1609x1610 1 0 0 1
8 Calypso NCState Univ. 1 0 0 1
9 H-19 Seminis 1 0 0 0
10 G4xNC-53 02GH1621x1624 1 0 0 1
11 M 21 NCState Univ. 1 1 0 0
12 Wis.SMR 18 Univ. Wis. 1 0 0 1
13 Linda(67x69) 02GH1608x161 1 0 0 1
14 HMX-1477 Harris Moran 1 1 0 0
15 G5xNC-55 02GH1627x1630 1 0 1 0
16 Davie(54x55) 02GH1616x1617 1 0 0 1
17 Napoleon SunSeeds 2 0 0 1
18 G4xNC-56 02GH1622x1625 2 0 1 1
19 Merritt(70x72 02GH1582x1583 2 0 0 2
20 G5xNC-52 02GH1626x1629 2 0 1 1
21 HMX-2478 Harris Moran 2 2 0 0
22 Duplin(56x57) 02GH1618x1619 3 1 0 1
23 SVR4506143 Seminis 3 2 0 1
24 G4xNC-57 02GH932x941 3 1 1 1
25 G4xNC-52 02GH1620x1623 3 1 0 2
26 G5xNC-57 02GH1628x1631 3 1 2 1
27 HMX-2479 Harris Moran 3 1 0 2
28 SRQP-2752 SunSeeds 4 1 0 2
29 SRQP-3146 SunSeeds 4 0 0 4
30 SRQP-2982 SunSeeds 6 2 2 2
31 SRQP-2860 SunSeeds 7 1 2 4
_________________________________________________________________________________
LSD (5%) 4 2 1 3
Mean 2 1 0 1
CV (%) 133 217 270 152
_________________________________________________________________________________
Table 4. Brinestock evaluation - firmness and texture of fruit, and resistance
to bloaters and defects (cultigens are ranked by firmness).z
_________________________________________________________________________________
Firm- Total
Cultivar Seed ness Text- bloaters Total Bal-
Rank or line source (lb.) ure & defects bloaters loon Defects
_________________________________________________________________________________
1 LexingtonPrth 02GH1607x1610 17.8 5.4 0 0 0 0
2 Linda(67x69) 02GH1608x161 16.9 4.9 2 1 0 1
3 H-19 Seminis 16.7 5.3 2 1 0 1
4 Longhrst68x69 02GH1609x1610 16.5 4.8 1 1 0 1
5 Lexingtn66x69 02GH1607x1610 16.2 5.3 1 0 0 0
6 Davie(54x55) 02GH1616x1617 15.5 6.0 2 0 0 1
7 G5xNC-57 02GH1628x1631 15.4 5.4 4 0 0 3
8 G4xNC-57 02GH932x941 15.4 5.2 3 0 0 3
9 G5xNC-55 02GH1627x1630 14.9 5.2 1 0 0 1
10 G5xNC-52 02GH1626x1629 14.9 4.4 3 1 1 2
11 SRQP-2982 SunSeeds 14.8 4.9 7 1 1 6
12 Calypso NCState Univ. 14.6 4.8 1 1 0 1
13 Johnston NCState Univ. 14.6 5.4 0 0 0 0
14 G4xNC-56 02GH1622x1625 14.4 5.3 2 0 0 2
15 HMX-1477 Harris Moran 14.2 5.0 4 3 2 1
16 G4xNC-53 02GH1621x1624 14.1 5.1 1 0 0 1
17 M 21 NCState Univ. 14.0 5.0 1 0 0 1
18 G4xNC-52 02GH1620x1623 13.9 5.3 3 0 0 3
19 Wis.SMR 18 Univ. Wis. 13.8 4.6 1 0 0 1
20 SRQP-2752 SunSeeds 13.8 5.3 5 1 0 4
21 Raleigh NCState Univ. 13.7 5.5 1 1 1 0
22 Napoleon SunSeeds 13.6 5.1 3 1 1 2
23 Duplin(56x57) 02GH1618x1619 13.4 5.8 3 0 0 3
24 HMX-2479 Harris Moran 13.4 4.9 5 2 2 3
25 SRQP-2860 SunSeeds 13.3 5.3 10 3 3 7
26 SVR4506143 Seminis 13.2 5.3 4 1 1 3
27 Merritt(70x72 02GH1582x1583 13.1 4.5 2 0 0 2
28 Moriah(71x73) 02GH1584x1585 12.8 4.8 1 0 0 1
29 HMX-2478 Harris Moran 12.6 5.3 4 2 1 2
30 G5xNC-54 02GH938x852 12.3 6.0 1 1 1 0
31 SRQP-3146 SunSeeds 11.6 4.9 6 2 2 4
_________________________________________________________________________________
LSD (5%) 2.9 0.6 5 2 1 4
Mean 14.4 5.2 3 3 1 2
CV (%) 12 24 110 123 143 133
_________________________________________________________________________________
z Firmness determined by punch-testing (Magness-Taylor) 10 grade 2B fruits.
Correlation of Texture with: Firmness = -0.10ns, Balloon = -0.31**
Correlation of Texture with: Honeycomb = -0.12ns, Soft centers = -0.44**
Table 5. Brinestock evaluation - quality ratings assigned by the judges
(judges are ranked by leniency).z
_________________________________________________________________________________
Average External Seed Uniform-
Rank Judge quality Shape color Texture cell ity
_________________________________________________________________________________
1 Apol 6.3 6.3 6.3 6.3 6.3 6.3
2 Quill 5.7 5.0 6.1 5.5 5.6 6.5
3 Denlinger 5.7 5.6 6.1 5.2 5.4 6.0
4 Cates,C 5.5 5.5 5.7 5.4 4.9 5.7
5 Flores 5.4 5.0 5.2 5.5 5.8 5.6
6 Smith 5.3 4.6 4.9 5.5 5.7 5.6
7 Newsome 5.2 5.0 5.7 5.4 5.0 4.8
8 Quinn 4.9 4.1 5.6 4.2 3.5 7.1
9 Jackson 4.8 4.0 5.2 5.0 5.2 4.8
10 Cain 4.7 4.5 5.2 4.3 4.8 4.7
11 Cates,J 4.7 4.0 4.9 4.7 5.0 4.8
12 Ware 4.1 3.2 4.3 4.9 4.5 3.3
_________________________________________________________________________________
z Quality rated 1 to 9 (9=A+, 8=A, 7=A-, 6=B+, 5=B, 4=B-, 3=C, 2=D, 1=F).