Contents



Preface

Cucumber is an economically important fruit vegetable. With abundant water, nutrients and phytochemical composition, cucumber has versatile uses in culinary, therapeutic and cosmetic purposes. Cucumber has also multiple advantages such as being a diploid and having a small genome, short life cycle and self-compatible mating system, so it has been identified as a model plant for genetic studies. The scientific research of cucumber will be beneficial for its efficient protection and

Cucumber was cultivated about 3000 years ago. It is indigenous to India and likely originated from the foothills of the Himalayas, and spread to Western Asia and Southern Europe. Cucumber was introduced respectively to North China through the Silk Route and to South China from Burma and the India–China border, and subsequently spread to East Asia. Nowadays, cucumber is widely cultivated in

Over six sections, this book presents the latest findings and research on several aspects of cucumber biology, breeding, cultivation, marketing, and more. Section 1, "Introduction," provides an overview of cucumber. Section 2, "Economic Values and Pharmacological Potentials," helps readers to understand the nutrients, functional components, and extensive utilization of cucumber. Section 3, "Production and Market," explains the market structure and earning situation related to selling cucumber. Section 4 "Cultivation and Management" and Section 5 "Pest and Disease Prevention" discusses the cultivation and improvement of cucumber to obtain high yield. Section 6, "Breeding Progress," summarizes the classical genetics and traditional breeding of cucumber, as well as presents prospects for future

I would like to extend thanks to all authors who contributed to this book. My sincere thanks go also Author Service Manager Ms. Jasna Bozic at IntechOpen who helped

**Haiping Wang**

Beijing, China

Institute of Vegetables and Flowers,

Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences,

me through all the stages of preparing and publishing this book.

temperate and tropical regions throughout the world.

utilization.

breeding.
