Effects of Saline-alkali Stress on Growth, Development, Physiology and Biochemistry of Cucumbers and Mitigation Strategies

Soil salinization is one of the major abiotic stresses limiting global agricultural production. As a major greenhouse vegetable crop in China, cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is particularly sensitive to saline-alkali stress, which severely inhibits its growth, yield and quality. In recent years, the research on saline-alkali stress in cucumbers has evolved from early descriptions of growth and development phenomena to a deeper exploration of physiological and molecular mechanisms, as well as the development of various mitigation strategies. This paper reviews the research progress from the aspects of the effects of salt-alkali stress on cucumber growth, development, and physiological and biochemical processes and mitigation measures for salt-alkali stress. The aim is to provide a reference for stress-tolerant cultivation and genetic improvement of cucumbers.