Quality of greenhouse cucumber fruit grown on perlite substrate or nutrient film technique

Cucumber fruit (Cucumis sativus L., cv. Trópico F1) grown on perlite substrate or NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) were harvested during two seasons (winter and spring) in order to monitor fruit quality. The best cucumber fruit quality as measured by lightness and Hue angle parameters was obtained during the three weeks following the date of first picking, in winter as well as in the spring crop. NFTgrown fruit showed darker and greener skin color (higher Hue angle and lower lightness) as compared with perlite-grown fruit, irrespective of the season considered. Fruit harvested during the winter season were smaller than during the spring season. During the spring season, NFT-grown fruit were less acidic than perlite-grown fruit. Skin color was found to be the best index of fruit quality in cucumber.