Wenjing Xu

Author    Correspondence author
Plant Gene and Trait, 2026, Vol. 17, No.   
Received: 01 Jan., 1970    Accepted: 01 Jan., 1970    Published: 26 Oct., 2026

Abstract This study analyzes the biological basis of training and continuous fruiting in protected cucumber cultivation and discusses major training operations, canopy responses, fruit-load regulation, harvest coordination, and the interaction of training with water, nutrients, temperature, light, and planting density. A stage-based management framework is proposed in which canopy structure, functional leaf area, source–sink balance, fruit load, and harvest renewal are treated as connected components rather than separate practices. Recent developments in imaging, three-dimensional phenotyping, sensors, and artificial intelligence are also considered. Future protected cucumber production is expected to move from fixed training schedules toward dynamic plant management based on measurable crop status. Such an approach may improve yield stability and resource-use efficiency while reducing premature plant senescence during long production cycles. This study is expected to provide a practical reference for optimizing training practices and improving the stability of continuous fruit production in protected cucumber cultivation.