Evaluation of gladiolus (Gladiolus hybrida) cultivars for flower and corm production under Pasighat (Arunachal Pradesh) condition Kumar Sunil1,*, Momin Kalkame Ch, Momin Baggio Ch, Marak Bethsera R Department of Floriculture, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Central Agricultural University, Pasighat, 791 102, Arunachal Pradesh, India 1Associate Professor, Department of Horticulture, North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Tura Campus, Chandmari-794 002, West Garo Hills District, Meghalaya, India *E-mail: sunu159@yahoo.co.in
Online published on 21 March, 2016. Abstract Evaluation of gladiolus (Gladiolus hybrida L.) cultivars to identify the suitable variety for successful cultivation, flower and corm production under agroclimatic condition of Pasighat, East Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh, was carried out during winter season (November 2011 to February 2013). Ten varieties, Jester, Candyman, Poppy Tears, Summer Sunshine, Wedding Bouquet, Hunting Song, Pacifica, American Beauty, Red Ginger and White Prosperity, were selected for evaluation. Uniform size of gladiolus corms (3.00–4.00 cm diameter) were planted on raised beds. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with three replications. Uniform package of practices were followed throughout the experiment to grow a healthy crop. Significant response in vegetative, flowering and corm characters was observed in cultivar Candyman, followed by Poppy Tears, Red Ginger, Hunting Song, Wedding Bouquet, Pacifica and American Beauty. Sprouting of corms were advanced in cultivars Poppy Tears, Candyman, Summer Sunshine, Wedding Bouquet, Hunting Song and Pacifica, while delayed in cultivars Jester, American Beauty, Red Ginger and White Prosperity. Highest plant height (71.20cm) in cultivar Red Ginger, number of leaves/plant (10.67) in Candyman, length of leaf (53.67cm) in Pacifica, breadth of leaf (4.97cm) in Poppy Tears and number of tillers/plant (2.67) in American Beauty and Red Ginger was recorded, however, earliness in spike emergence after corm sprouting (60.00 days) in Jester, days to first flowering after spike emergence (9.33 days) in Candyman and maximum spike length (109.83cm) in Red Ginger, rachis length (66.23cm) in Pacifica, florets/spike (18.33) in Red Ginger and diameter of flower stalk (10.05mm) in Hunting Song were observed. Enhanced field life (20.33 days) and vase-life of cut gladiolus flowers under tap water (12.00 days) was observed in cultivar Red Ginger. However, maximum corm weight (74.30g) was noticed with cultivar Hunting Song, followed by Candyman (68.70g), Red Ginger (64, 20g) and Poppy Tears (57.50g). Top Keywords Gladiolus, Evaluation, Variety, Climate, Field life, Vase-life, Corm, Spike, Florets. Top |