Abstract: Lateral branching and inflorescence are important components of plant architecture. Plant usually changes from vegetative growth to reproductive growth. A cucumber line S61 with non-lateral branch phenotype was observed in greenhouse for several years. Both anatomy observation and different growth condition tests had been taken in this study. The results showed that the axillary meristem of line S61 had differentiated to flower buds. Inflorescence reversion could happen in S61 when growth condition changed. Anatomy comparison results between had/non lateral-branching cucumber lines proved that at the early steps of development, axillary primordium were all the same, differentiation aspect were determined mainly by inheritance.

Key words: Cucumis sativus L., axillary meristem, lateral branching, inflorescence reversion