Vol. 10, Issue 10 (2021)

Author(s):
K Kishore Kumar, M Ganga, K Rajamani, S Geethanjali and T Elaiyabharathi

Abstract:
The present experiment was carried out at the Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, with the objective of identifying new promising genotypes for commercial cultivation as loose flower, since there is only a single popular cultivar of Jasminum sambac viz., Ramanathapuram Gundumalli, being cultivated commercially on a large scale since many decades. Fifteen genotypes of J. sambac from the jasmine germplasm maintained at the Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture were evaluated in this study. These genotypes had been collected from various parts of Tamil Nadu. Flower bud yield and floral quality parameters were assessed in these genotypes. The study revealed that among the fifteen genotypes evaluated, Acc.Js-35 proved to be significantly superior for flower bud yield and floral quality parameters. The values recorded by Acc.Js-35 were the highest for annual flower bud yield (1333.06 g/plant/year), estimated flower bud yield (8.53 t/ha/year), hundred flower bud weight (58.762 g), flower bud length (2.70 cm) and corolla tube length (1.13 cm). The genotype Acc.Js-35 was found to be statistically superior to the standard check cultivar Ramanathapuram Gundumalli for the above said yield and quality parameters. Fragrance level of the accession Acc.Js -35 was also found to be strong and on par with Ramanathapuram Gundumalli. Based on its performance, Acc.Js -35 has been identified as a suitable genotype for loose flower cultivation.