Vol. 9, Issue 5 (2020)

Author(s):
Arif H Wani, Khurshid A Sofi and M Abass

Abstract:
(Gladiolus grandiflorus L.) is one of the important cut flower which occupies sixth rank in global trade among the cut flowers in the world and also commercially cultivated in Kashmir valley. A field experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with three replications to find out the performance of eleven gladiolus cultivars for their growth, flowering, spike yield and corm yield characters under temperate conditions of Kashmir Valley. The results revealed that there were significant difference among the cultivars with respect to vegetative growth parameters, flowering attributes and corm yield. Among all varieties, Deepest Red and White prosperity were found performing better with highest growth, flowering and corm yield parameters. The maximum dry matter production was recorded in White Prosperity (47.34 g plant^-1) followed by Deepest Red (47.12 g plant^-1) and Trader Horn (42.56 g plant^-1) and the minimum dry matter production was recorded in cultivar Her Majesty (34.72 g plant^-1) respectively. Significantly highest spike length (103.20 cm) and rachis length (88.25 cm) were recorded in cultivar ‘White Prosperity’ followed by Trader Horn. However, the maximum number of marketable spike yield per plant was recorded in the cultivars White friendship and Deepest Red. The maximum number of corms per plant (1.33) was recorded in ‘Green Star’ and Trader Horn while many cultivars viz., White prosperity, Prescilla, Nova Lux, Sonia, have produced only one corm. It could be concluded that the gladiolus varieties, White prosperity, Deepest Red and Trader Horn were found suitable for the temperate conditions of Kashmir valley.