Bitterness

               
 Bitterness, a physiological disorder, is often observed under cool weather at higher elevations. At low elevations excessive Nitrogen fertilization may result in this disorder but the causal factor at higher elevations has not yet been determined. The compounds cucurbitacin B and C are responsible for bitterness in cucumber. They are normally found at higher concentrations in the vines and in the fruit the chemical concentrates at the stem-end just below the skin. The newer cucumber hybrids are less susceptible to bitterness than older open-pollinated ones.