Effect of Different Plastic Covers on Vegetative Growth and Yield Quality of Cucumber Plants (Cucumis sativus L.)

Greenhouse films have traditionally used an absorber of short wavelength UV as a part of the stabilizer package. Replacing or augmenting this with alternative absorbers can broaden the band of UV absorption up to wavelengths of 370 to 380nm and this is the principle used in some greenhouse film for insect and/or fungal control. Plant responses to light spectral quality can be exploited to deliver a range of agronomical desirable end points in protected crops. The work reported here has characterized the response of commercial cucumber cultivars, Hesham F1 and Brengy F1 when grown under diffused Anti Fog UV-Opaque film (THB AF UV-O), clear Anti Fog UV-Opaque film (UV-O), diffused UV-Opaque film (THB UV-O) and polyvinyl chloride (P.V.C). Our results indicated that, diffused Anti Fog UV-Opaque film (THB AF UV-O) significantly increased plant height, number of leaves per plant and the average plant leaf area of both cucumber cultivars when compared to the other plastic covers. The highest total yield and number of fruits per square meter was achieved by cladding greenhouse by diffused Anti Fog UV-Opaque film (THB AF UV-O) one. Meanwhile, the lowest mean values of fruit yield and its components were attained by using polyvinyl chloride (P.V.C)