Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

PERFORMANCE OF GLADIOLUS (GLADIOLUS GRANDIFLORUSHORT.) GENOTYPES FOR FLOWERING, FLOWER QUALITY AND CORM YIELD UNDER HILL ZONE OF KARNATAKA

H.P. Sudeep, B.S. Reddy, S. Latha, B. Divya and Kallappa Narode

Abstract

The performance of ten gladiolus genotypes was conducted at Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, College of Horticulture, Mudigere during 2012-2013 in respect of flowering and corm production. All cultivars differed significantly in flowering and flower quality. Among the ten cultivars studied, early emergence of spike was recorded in Cv. Red Majesty (62.80 days) while, it was late in Cv. Jester (79.00 days). First floret opening was recorded in Cultivar Red Majesty (73.87 days), while it was delayed in cultivar Jester (91.80 days). The longest spike length was recorded in cultivar Red Ginger (114.23 cm) and it was on par with cultivar White Prosperity (107.73 cm) and shortest in Cv. Her Majesty (70.3 cm). Number of florets per spike was maximum in cultivar White Prosperity (18.27) whereas, minimum in cultivar Her Majesty (10.80). Cultivar American Beauty recorded maximum diameter of floret (11.63 cm)and it was minimum in cultivar Her Majesty (8.89 cm). Spike yield was maximum in cv. Summer Sunshine(116666.33 spikes per hectare) followed by cv. Red Ginger (105555.33 spikes per hectare) and Red Majesty (101851.67 spikes per hectare), whereas, minimum in Cv.Jester (59259.00 spikes per hectare). Among the cultivars studied, vase life was maximum in cultivars American Beauty, White Prosperity, Candy Man and Summer Sunshine (11.67 days, 11.33 days, 10.67 days and 10.00 days respectively), whereas minimum in cultivar Her Majesty (7.33 days). Number of corms per plant was maximum in cultivar Summer unshine (1.47). Diameter of corm was maximum in cultivar Summer Sunshine (7.64 cm) and minimum in cultivar Her Majesty (5.39 cm). Maximum yield of corms per hectare was recorded in cultivar Summer Sunshine (9058.67 kg) and minimum in cultivar Her Majesty (921.67g).