Interaction effects of genotypes and storage media on corm storability and floral traits in Gladiolus under cold storage conditions

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during May-December of 2024 and 2025 at the ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, to evaluate the efficacy of storage media in mitigating physiological desiccation of gladiolus (Gladiolus × grandiflorus L.) corms under cold storage (6 ± 1 °C). The study employed a factorial completely randomized design with five genotypes (‘Pusa Shanti’, ‘Pusa Mohini’, ‘Pusa Manmohak’, ‘Jyotsna’ and ‘Creamy Green’) and three storage environments (control, cocopeat and sand). Results revealed cocopeat as the most effective medium for preserving corm physiology, recording less deterioration of weight (4.87%) and advancing sprouting (92.35 days). Among genotypes, ‘Pusa Mohini’ exhibited superior storage performance with maximum corm weight retention (72.30 g initial, 69.87 g final), while ‘Creamy Green’ showed the lowest shrinkage (3.75%). Although cocopeat accelerated spike emergence (74.36 days), sand proved superior for field performance, significantly enhancing sprouting (89.71%), floret longevity (4.91 days) and spike length (71.78 cm). Significant genotype × media interactions indicated that ‘Pusa Mohini’ stored in cocopeat is ideal for earliness and corm yield, whereas ‘Creamy Green’ stored in sand produced the longest spikes (79.25 cm), suitable for the cut‑flower industry. The study concludes that cocopeat serves as an effective buffer against cold‑induced desiccation, while sand is the optimal stratification medium for maximizing vegetative vigour and floral quality. These findings provide a basis for developing variety‑specific storage protocols to minimize post‑harvest losses and enhance gladiolus productivity under Indian conditions.