NCSU Cucumber Breeding Report - 2008
Todd C. Wehner
Professor
Tammy L. Ellington
Research Specialist
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. Ellington z
Department of Horticultural Science
North Carolina State University
Introduction
Cucumbers from harvests 3, 5 and 6 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, Henry Woods, Bob Quinn, and Lisa Moeller (Mt. Olive),
Eddie Quill, Darrell Hawley, JW Jackson, and Rickey Jackson (Bay Valley),
Steve Apol (Toisnot), Dan Bader (Carolina's Best), Thomas Joyner (Nash Produce),
Sara Walpole (Nunhems) and Chris Ware (Harris Moran).
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 Exp06-3566,
NC-Danbury, Exp06-3575, NC-Duplin, Feisty, Exp07-5654, Raleigh,
CrossCountry, Exp06-3589, EGP-410, and EGP-411.
- Most cultigens were bloater resistant; several were susceptible: Colt,
and EX147-27140.
- The firmest cultigens were Treasure, Johnston, LB-27, Vlaspik, EGP-410,
NC-Lexington, Sumter, Exp07-5654, Exp06-3566, and Vlasspear.
- 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 Denlinger who assigned the highest quality ratings, to
Jackson 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 (the judges agreed
on which were good cultigens, and which were bad cultigens).
____________________________
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 Exp06-3566 Bejo Seeds 6.1 5.6 5.7 6.5 6.5 6.2
2 NC-Danbury NCState Univ 6.0 5.8 6.0 6.2 6.0 6.1
3 Exp06-3575 Bejo Seeds 5.9 5.4 5.9 6.4 6.2 5.7
4 NC-Duplin NCState Univ 5.7 5.5 5.8 5.6 5.6 5.7
5 Feisty Harris Moran 5.6 5.3 5.8 5.7 5.6 5.7
6 Exp07-5654 Bejo Seeds 5.6 5.3 5.8 5.6 5.5 5.6
7 Raleigh NCState Univ 5.5 5.2 5.8 5.7 5.5 5.5
8 CrossCountry Harris Moran 5.5 5.5 5.7 5.5 5.4 5.5
9 Exp06-3589 Bejo Seeds 5.5 4.7 5.3 6.0 6.0 5.4
10 EGP-410 EmeraldSeeds 5.5 5.2 5.4 5.8 5.5 5.5
11 EGP-411 EmeraldSeeds 5.5 5.2 5.8 5.4 5.3 5.6
12 NC-Leland NCState Univ 5.4 6.2 6.3 4.4 4.0 6.2
13 NC-Longhurst NCState Univ 5.3 5.4 5.8 4.7 4.7 6.0
14 Johnston NCState Univ 5.3 5.1 5.5 5.4 5.1 5.5
15 Calypso NCState Univ 5.3 5.1 5.2 5.5 5.3 5.4
16 Supreme Nunhems 5.3 5.0 5.7 5.4 5.1 5.4
17 LB-27 Baker Seeds 5.3 4.8 5.6 5.4 5.3 5.3
18 LB-09 Baker Seeds 5.3 4.9 5.9 5.3 5.0 5.3
19 Colt Seminis 5.2 5.0 5.5 5.3 5.1 5.2
20 Sumter Clemson Univ 5.2 4.6 5.0 5.7 5.4 5.4
21 Lafayette Nunhems 5.2 4.8 5.5 5.2 5.2 5.3
22 Vlasspear Seminis 5.2 4.8 5.3 5.4 5.3 5.1
23 EX147-45479 Seminis 5.2 4.0 5.3 5.7 5.7 5.1
24 Vlasstar Seminis 5.1 4.8 5.5 5.2 4.9 5.2
25 Wainwright Nunhems 5.0 4.8 5.7 4.8 4.6 5.1
26 EX147-35234 Seminis 5.0 4.4 5.7 5.0 4.9 5.0
27 PP12-102 Rijk Zwaan 5.0 4.5 5.7 4.9 4.6 5.2
28 NC-Davie ZeraimGedera 4.9 5.2 5.5 4.7 4.3 5.1
29 Treasure Harris Moran 4.9 4.5 5.2 5.1 4.8 5.1
30 Wis.SMR 18 Univ. Wis. 4.8 4.4 4.3 5.2 4.9 5.1
31 NC-Lexington NCState Univ 4.8 4.7 4.7 4.6 4.4 5.4
32 PP12-103 Rijk Zwaan 4.7 4.2 4.9 4.9 4.6 5.0
33 Vlaspik Seminis 4.7 4.6 5.2 4.6 4.3 4.9
34 EX147-27140 Seminis 4.7 4.1 5.7 4.6 4.4 4.8
35 HSX-900 HortAg Seed 4.6 4.1 5.1 4.8 4.5 4.6
36 HMX-7426 Harris Moran 4.5 4.2 5.1 4.4 4.2 4.8
37 H-19 Seminis 4.2 4.8 4.2 3.8 3.2 5.2
38 NC-Merritt NCState Univ 4.2 3.8 4.5 3.9 3.7 5.2
39 Coolgreen Seminis 3.3 3.1 4.2 2.4 2.4 4.5
_________________________________________________________________________________
CV (%) 17 24 18 22 25 21
Mean 5.1 4.8 5.4 5.1 4.9 5.3
LSD (5%) 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.5
_________________________________________________________________________________
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) = 0.89**
Correlation (Texture with Seedcell) = 0.97**
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 NC-Danbury NCState Univ 0 0 0 0
2 Exp06-3575 Bejo Seeds 0 0 0 0
3 NC-Leland NCState Univ 0 0 0 0
4 NC-Longhurst NCState Univ 0 0 0 0
5 LB-27 Baker Seeds 0 0 0 0
6 Sumter Clemson Univ 0 0 0 0
7 EX147-45479 Seminis 0 0 0 0
8 EX147-35234 Seminis 0 0 0 0
9 Wis.SMR 18 Univ. Wis. 0 0 0 0
10 NC-Lexington NCState Univ 0 0 0 0
11 H-19 Seminis 0 0 0 0
12 NC-Merritt NCState Univ 0 0 0 0
13 Exp06-3566 Bejo Seeds 0 0 0 0
14 Feisty Harris Moran 0 0 0 0
15 Exp07-5654 Bejo Seeds 0 0 0 0
16 CrossCountry Harris Moran 0 0 0 0
17 Johnston NCState Univ 0 0 0 0
18 Calypso NCState Univ 0 0 0 0
19 Vlasspear Seminis 0 0 0 0
20 Treasure Harris Moran 0 0 0 0
21 Raleigh NCState Univ 0 0 0 0
22 PP12-103 Rijk Zwaan 0 0 0 0
23 Vlasstar Seminis 0 0 0 0
24 Supreme Nunhems 0 0 0 0
25 NC-Duplin NCState Univ 0 0 0 0
26 PP12-102 Rijk Zwaan 0 0 0 0
27 NC-Davie ZeraimGedera 1 1 0 0
28 Exp06-3589 Bejo Seeds 1 1 0 0
29 HSX-900 HortAg Seed 1 1 0 0
30 Wainwright Nunhems 1 1 0 0
31 Lafayette Nunhems 1 1 0 0
32 EGP-411 EmeraldSeeds 2 2 0 0
33 Vlaspik Seminis 3 3 0 0
34 Coolgreen Seminis 4 4 0 0
35 HMX-7426 Harris Moran 5 5 0 0
36 LB-09 Baker Seeds 5 5 0 0
37 EGP-410 EmeraldSeeds 5 5 0 0
38 Colt Seminis 7 7 0 0
39 EX147-27140 Seminis 10 10 0 0
_________________________________________________________________________________
CV (%) 316 316 - -
Mean 1 1 - -
LSD (5%) 6 6 - -
_________________________________________________________________________________
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 NC-Danbury NCState Univ 0 0 0 0
2 Sumter Clemson Univ 0 0 0 0
3 NC-Leland NCState Univ 1 0 0 1
4 EX147-45479 Seminis 1 0 1 0
5 EX147-35234 Seminis 1 0 0 1
6 Wis.SMR 18 Univ. Wis. 1 0 0 1
7 Exp06-3566 Bejo Seeds 1 0 0 0
8 Feisty Harris Moran 1 1 0 0
9 Vlasspear Seminis 1 1 0 0
10 Wainwright Nunhems 1 1 0 0
11 Exp06-3575 Bejo Seeds 1 0 1 0
12 CrossCountry Harris Moran 1 1 0 0
13 Raleigh NCState Univ 1 1 0 0
14 Exp06-3589 Bejo Seeds 1 0 0 1
15 Calypso NCState Univ 2 1 0 1
16 HSX-900 HortAg Seed 2 0 0 2
17 LB-27 Baker Seeds 2 0 1 1
18 NC-Lexington NCState Univ 2 0 0 2
19 NC-Merritt NCState Univ 2 0 0 2
20 Johnston NCState Univ 2 1 0 1
21 EGP-411 EmeraldSeeds 2 1 1 0
22 Vlaspik Seminis 2 1 0 1
23 NC-Longhurst NCState Univ 2 0 0 2
24 Exp07-5654 Bejo Seeds 2 1 0 1
25 Lafayette Nunhems 2 1 0 1
26 HMX-7426 Harris Moran 2 0 0 2
27 PP12-103 Rijk Zwaan 3 1 0 1
28 Treasure Harris Moran 3 1 0 2
29 Vlasstar Seminis 4 2 0 2
30 NC-Duplin NCState Univ 4 3 1 0
31 LB-09 Baker Seeds 4 3 0 1
32 Supreme Nunhems 4 3 0 2
33 PP12-102 Rijk Zwaan 4 1 0 3
34 EGP-410 EmeraldSeeds 5 4 1 0
35 H-19 Seminis 5 0 0 5
36 NC-Davie ZeraimGedera 7 1 1 5
37 Colt Seminis 7 4 1 1
38 EX147-27140 Seminis 12 8 1 3
39 Coolgreen Seminis 17 0 0 17
_________________________________________________________________________________
CV (%) 131 226 342 154
Mean 3 1 0 2
LSD (5%) 6 4 1 4
_________________________________________________________________________________
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 Treasure Harris Moran 22.8 5.1 3 0 0 3
2 Johnston NCState Univ 22.7 5.4 2 0 0 2
3 LB-27 Baker Seeds 22.6 5.4 2 0 0 2
4 Vlaspik Seminis 22.4 4.6 5 3 3 2
5 EGP-410 EmeraldSeeds 22.4 5.8 10 5 5 5
6 NC-Lexington NCState Univ 22.3 4.6 2 0 0 2
7 Sumter Clemson Univ 22.1 5.7 0 0 0 0
8 Exp07-5654 Bejo Seeds 22.1 5.6 2 0 0 2
9 Exp06-3566 Bejo Seeds 21.9 6.5 1 0 0 1
10 Vlasspear Seminis 21.9 5.4 1 0 0 1
11 Exp06-3589 Bejo Seeds 21.8 6.0 2 1 1 1
12 Exp06-3575 Bejo Seeds 21.7 6.4 1 0 0 1
13 Vlasstar Seminis 21.4 5.2 4 0 0 4
14 NC-Danbury NCState Univ 21.3 6.2 0 0 0 0
15 EX147-45479 Seminis 21.3 5.7 1 0 0 1
16 Calypso NCState Univ 21.3 5.5 2 0 0 2
17 EX147-35234 Seminis 21.2 5.0 1 0 0 1
18 PP12-102 Rijk Zwaan 21.2 4.9 5 0 0 4
19 Colt Seminis 21.1 5.3 14 7 7 7
20 Feisty Harris Moran 21.0 5.7 1 0 0 1
21 LB-09 Baker Seeds 20.9 5.3 9 5 5 4
22 NC-Longhurst NCState Univ 20.9 4.7 2 0 0 2
23 Wis.SMR 18 Univ. Wis. 20.8 5.2 1 0 0 1
24 Raleigh NCState Univ 20.8 5.7 1 0 0 1
25 EGP-411 EmeraldSeeds 20.7 5.4 4 2 2 2
26 HSX-900 HortAg Seed 20.4 4.8 3 1 1 2
27 Supreme Nunhems 20.3 5.4 4 0 0 4
28 PP12-103 Rijk Zwaan 20.3 4.9 3 0 0 3
29 NC-Duplin NCState Univ 20.2 5.6 4 0 0 4
30 NC-Leland NCState Univ 20.2 4.4 1 0 0 1
31 EX147-27140 Seminis 20.2 4.6 22 10 10 12
32 Lafayette Nunhems 20.0 5.2 3 1 1 2
33 NC-Davie ZeraimGedera 20.0 4.7 7 1 1 7
34 H-19 Seminis 19.8 3.8 5 0 0 5
35 Wainwright Nunhems 19.7 4.8 2 1 1 1
36 CrossCountry Harris Moran 18.7 5.5 1 0 0 1
37 HMX-7426 Harris Moran 18.6 4.4 7 5 5 2
38 NC-Merritt NCState Univ 18.4 3.9 2 0 0 2
39 Coolgreen Seminis 10.8 2.4 21 4 4 17
_________________________________________________________________________________
CV (%) 7 22 167 316 316 131
Mean 20.7 5.1 4 1 1 3
LSD (5%) 2.3 0.5 11 6 6 6
_________________________________________________________________________________
z Firmness determined by punch-testing (Magness-Taylor) 10 grade 2B fruits.
Correlation of Texture with: Firmness = 0.43**, Balloon = -0.17ns
Correlation of Texture with: Honeycomb = ns, Soft centers = -0.65**
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 Denlinger 6.3 6.1 7.1 5.7 5.5 7.0
2 Joyner 5.9 6.1 6.1 5.8 5.3 6.0
3 Moeller 5.9 6.0 6.5 6.0 5.1 5.8
4 Bader 5.8 5.8 6.1 5.7 5.5 6.0
5 Quill 5.7 4.7 5.8 5.7 6.4 6.2
6 Woods 5.5 5.2 5.3 6.0 5.8 5.4
7 Quinn 5.1 4.0 5.1 5.0 4.2 7.2
8 Ware 4.9 4.0 4.7 5.8 5.8 4.3
9 JacksonJW 4.5 4.1 5.3 4.2 4.4 4.7
10 Hawley 4.5 4.0 4.6 4.6 4.5 4.6
11 Apol 4.4 4.4 4.4 4.4 4.4 4.4
12 Walpole 4.2 4.1 4.5 4.4 4.1 3.9
13 JacksonRk 4.1 4.4 4.8 3.7 3.5 4.0
_________________________________________________________________________________
z Quality rated 1 to 9 (9=A+, 8=A, 7=A-, 6=B+, 5=B, 4=B-, 3=C, 2=D, 1=F).