Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

PERFORMANCE OF VARIETIES OF GLADIOLUS (GLADIOLUS FLORIBUNDUS L.) UNDER FAIZABAD CLIMATIC CONDITION ON THE BASIS OF GROWTH PARAMETERS

Pragnyashree Mishra, A.K. Singh and S. Mohapatra

Abstract

Present investigation was conducted to study the relative performance of twenty four genotypes of gladiolus for their growth parameters under Faizabad (U.P., India) conditions. The field trial was conducted at main experimental station of department of Horticulture, NDUAT, Kumarganj, Faizabad during 2011-2012.The significant differences among the chosen varieties were observed for the characters namely number of sprouts, height at 30 days after planting, height at 60 days after planting, height at harvesting stage and number of leaves per plant. Gladiolus is an important cut flower crop in both domestic and international markets for its elegant spikes with wide range of flower colour. Its cut spikes remain fresh at least for a week and are in great demand for bouquet preparation and interior decoration. The marketing potential can be exploited by introduction and evaluation of gladiolus varieties. Vegetative parameters of plants decide the yield and vase life of the spikes. The data revealed that maximum number of sprout (2.9) per corm in cultivar Aldebaran which was found significantly superior to the other cultivars. It was followed by Picardy, American beauty (pink) and so on. The plants of cultivar Yellow stone, Friendship Pink and Yellow Stone attended maximum height at 30,60 days after planting and a harvesting stage respectively. The total number of leaves per plant in all cultivars varies from 4.9 to 9.4.