THE EFFECTS OF STONEWOOL QUALITY AND CULTIVATION SYSTEM ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE THICK ROOT SYNDROME WITH CUCUMBER PLANTS

The effect of the chemical composition of Cultilène stonewool blocks and the block water content during cultivation on the development of the thick root syndrome (TRS) was studied.
Different block types examined were standard HR blocks, standard blocks injected with 20 ml binding agent, standard blocks with a 50-fold level of wetting agent, and blocks produced at a sub-optimal or supra-optimal polymerization temperature.
In all block types examined, cultivation on ebb/flow benches and on an experimental cultivation system with a constant low water content in the block did not lead to the development of TRS. In an experimental cultivation system with a constant high water level, curly roots were found in all block types, but no further symptoms of TRS developed.
The experiments showed no evidence that the chemical composition of Cultilène stonewool blocks contributed to the development of TRS symptoms.
The results confirm earlier data which indicate that the water level in the block plays a role in the development of curly roots in cucumber.

International Symposium on Growing Media and Hydroponics

W. Verkerke, J.A. Kipp

water content, curly roots, sub-optimal stonewool

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1999.481.2