Phytohormones Content in Cucumber Leaves by Using Pruning as a Mechanical Stress

The effect of mechanical stress created by pruning of lateral branches on sex expression in cucumber cultivar, “Sialkot Selection’ was examined. Seeds were sown in the field and after reaching the required number of lateral branches according to respective treatment, each new coming lateral branch were pinched off. The pruning treatments included; main stem without any lateral branches (T ) and main stem with one (T ), two 1 2 (T ), three (T ), four (T ) and five (T ) lateral branches. The un-pruned plants were kept as control (T ). 3 4 5 6 0 The experiment was conducted under RCBD with three replications. The greatest increase in female flower production, lowest to sex ratio, highest number of fruits plant and yield were recorded with the treatment 1 T compared with control. This is due to decrease in endogenous GA level at blooming and fruiting stages and 4 increase in IAA level at flower initiation, blooming and fruiting stages. Yield increase in relation to control recorded up to 61%.