Abstract

Cucumber is an important fruit vegetable for supply of essential nutrients to achieve balanced diets. Low soil micronutrients and poor flower induction have been attributed to low nutritional qualities of cucumber fruits. This study investigated the influence of foliar application of naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and manganese (Mn) on nutritional qualities of cucumber fruits. Two varieties of cucumber were treated with three concentrations each of naphthalene and manganese. Proximate, manganese, magnesium and phosphorus contents of cucumber fruits were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry techniques and spectrophotometry. In Poinsett variety, application of NAA and Mn increased Mg content of cucumber fruit with highest Mg (17.4%) at 100 ppm of NAA and Mn. However, application of NAA and Mn decreased Mg content of cucumber fruit except at 50 and 100 ppm Mn alone in Marketer variety. Crude fibre of fruit increased in both varieties; Poinsett produced the highest crude fibre (17.87%) at 50 ppm Mn alone whereas Marketer produced highest crude fibre (19.75%) at 100 ppm NAA and 50 ppm Mn. Application of 100 ppm Mn alone produced the highest crude fat in both Poinsett (3.71%) and Marketer (3.59%). foliar application of NAA and Mn reduced moisture content of both Poinsett and Marketer by about 15%. High doses of NAA and Mn slightly increased carbohydrate content of Poinsett fruits and slightly decreased carbohydrate content of Marketer fruits. The study concluded that foliar nutrition of NAA and Mn could be used to achieve desired nutritional properties in cucumber fruits