Paulista gherkin is a new gherkin type derived from Cucumis anguria x Cucumis longipes crossing, with distinct fruit and leaf characteristics. Fruit yield among three Paulista gherkin lines were compared to the Common gherkin type, grown in substrate inside a greenhouse and trained vertically. Sowing was done in poliestirene trays. At the stage of 5 true leaves, plants were transferred to 5 L pots containing a mixture of sand, vermiculite and humus. Inside the greenhouse, the pots were arranged in 4 double rows, 0.5 m from each other, with 1.0 m between rows. Plants were vertically trained and pruned. A randomized block experimental design with eight replicates and eight plants per plot was used. The total production expressed as the total weight of fruits did not differ between the two gherkin types. Paulista gherkin fruits were, on average, 62 to 84% heavier than the Common gherkin ones. The gherkin L2 line showed higher total fruit weight than the other lines and mean fruit weight 75% higher than the Common type. This line may be recommended to growers as a new cultivar of Paulista gherkin type.
Cucumis anguria L.; crop management; pruning; yield
