Effect of the electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution in the quality of gherkins fruits (Cucumis anguria) cultivated in substrate

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution on fruit quality in gherkin cultivars. A randomized complete block design was used in a 4 x 4 factorial design, with three replicates, four cultivars (Do Norte, 163, Liso de Calcutá e Liso Gibão) with four concentrations of nutrients in the nutrient solution with different electrical conductivities (1.4, 1.9, 2.4 and 2.9 dS/m). The fruits were harvested at commercial maturity, immature with intense green color and analyzed the following characteristics: soluble solids, pH, electrical conductivity of the juice (CEsuco), titratable acidity and SS/TA ratio. With the exception of pH, the other quality characteristics of the fruit were affected by the cultivation of the gherkin in the different nutrient solutions and of different form for each cultivar. The fruits of cultivar 163 showed lower SS, pH, CEsuco for CEsn of 1.4 dS/m and SS/AT ratio, but presented higher TA and CEsuco for CEsn above 1.4 dS/m). Considering the SS/TA ratio, the cultivars Do Norte and Liso Gibão presented, in general, better quality for in natura consumption. The fruits with better quality, higher SS/TA ratio, were obtained for all cultivars in nutrient solution with higher electrical conductivity.