Evaluation of Parthenocarpic Cucumbers in Passive Greenhouse Under Organic Production System in Indian Cold Desert Ladakh

Protected cultivation has emerged as a transformative solution for vegetable production in cold-arid regions, like Ladakh, India, where open-field agriculture is severely constrained by sub-zero winter temperatures, intense radiation, limited water, and a short growing season.Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), especially gynoecious and parthenocarpic hybrids, offers tremendous potential under passive solar and polycrbonate greenhouse conditions due to its seedless fruit set without pollination and superior market demand.However, localized evaluation of hybrids is crucial before commercial adoption due to genotype-environment interactions affecting yield and quality.The present study was conducted during summer 2021 at the Precision Farming Development Centre, Stakna, Ladakh to evaluate five parthenocarpic cucumber hybrids -Aviva, Koyal, Jointer, Albela, and Sania -under passive greenhouse conditions.The experiment followed a Randomized Block Design with four replications.Standard organic cultivation practices were adopted, with drip irrigation and vermicompost as nutrient sources.Observations were recorded on vegetative, yield, and quality traits.Data were analyzed using analysis of variance, correlation, and path analysis through OPSTAT.Results revealed significant genotypic variability among the hybrids.Koyal emerged as the most promising hybrid, recording the highest yield, number of fruits per plant, and number of harvests, reflecting superior productivity and sustained fruiting.Sania exhibited the longest vine length and harvest duration and the highest flesh-to-seed cavity ratio, indicating superior fruit quality.Aviva showed favorable total soluble solids and larger fruit circumference, making it desirable for premium markets.Correlation analysis identified yield per hectare as being most strongly associated with fruits per plant and number of harvests, while path analysis revealed fruits per plant as the most influential direct determinant of yield.Traits such as vine length and harvest duration contributed substantial indirect effects.Overall, the study demonstrates that parthenocarpic cucumber hybrids perform exceptionally well under Ladakh's passive greenhouse system, with Koyal being the most suitable hybrid for early summer cultivation due to its high yield potential, prolonged harvest period, and adaptability.The findings highlight the importance of genotype-specific selection for optimizing productivity and profitability of greenhouse cucumber cultivation in cold desert environments.