Ming Gao, Senior Research Scientist in the Cooperative Agricultural Research Center (CARC), is involved in an integrated research and extension project to promote local cucumber production using grafting technology.
The cucumber, a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, originated in India. It can be planted in the spring, summer and fall, which makes it popular for consumption. While prominent, it is prone to disease. In order to keep cucumbers healthy and edible, grafting is often used.
To overcome cucumber disease, enhance plant growth, tolerance of abiotic stress and resistance to soil-borne disease for increased yield, PVAMU CAHS is cultivating cucumbers by grafting them onto the black-seeded pumpkin. The CARC and CEP partnership will bring grafted-cucumber production technology to limited-resource growers in the area in order to promote successful cucumber production.
With their resistance to disease and tolerance of difficult growing conditions, grafted fruits and vegetables are becoming more popular with farmers all over the world. To fulfill the Land-Grant mission of the University, the CAHS works with Texas farmers who share obstacles they may face with Agriculture and Natural Resources (AgNr) County Agents. CEP agents, in turn, share these issues with the CARC Researchers to find solutions. Once success is obtained in the research area, the findings are sent back to the counties, as well to classrooms and laboratories.
To learn more about the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences programs and research, visit the CAHS Plan of Work.
Submitted by Meshia Greer, PVAMU student