CHATPER ONE
1.0   INTRODUCTION
  Cucumber (Cucumbis sativus), a member, of cucurbitaceous family, is native of Asia, and Africa, where it has been consumed for 3,000 years, may be one of our oldest crop .Cucumber was being grown in North Africa, Italy, Greece, Asia minor and other areas at the beginning of the Christian era USDA (1999).Today Cucumber is grown all over the world for pickling, (pickles) and fresh market (slicers)                                                                               
Cucumber is a creeping tender warm season vegetable plant that produces well when grown under proper management. It is a creeping vine that roots in the ground and grown up trellising on other supporting frames, wrapping around ribbing with thin, spiraling tendrils widders and price, (1985) the plant has large leaves that forms canopy over the fruit. The fruit roughly cylindrical elongated with tapered ends legard (2000) and may be as large as 60cm long and 10cm diameter. Fruits are rich in vitamin A and calcium, calories, small amount of beta carotene which is found in the green peel, dietary fiber carbohydrate, some trace of iron and 95% water which call for its lowest nutritional content in the cucurbit family       Firbank, (1990).
Cucumber grown to be eating fresh (Slickers) and those intended for pickling (pickers) are similar Cucumber are mainly eaten in the unripe green form. The ripe yellow form normally becomes too bitter and sours Schapendonk and Brower, (1994)
Cucumber is a thermophillic horticultural crop usually cultivated in field during the late rainy season USDA ( 2005).In tropical regions however, yields of monoecious hybrids increase in the hamattan season when favorable condition such as photo-period, higher light energy and lower night temperature enhance the production of female flowers Filgneria, (2000).Having enclosed seeds and developing from a flower, Cucumber are scientifically classified as fruit much like tomatoes and squash, however, their sour bitter flavor contribute to it being perceived prepared and eaten as vegetables JU (1997).It does well in a loose sandy-loam soil but can also strive in any well drained soil USDA,( 2005)
Cucumber belongs to the kingdom plantae, division magnoliophyta, class magnoliopsida; order cubitales family curcubitacea, genius cucumis and species cucumis sativus.