Evaluation and performance of gladiolus hybrids for commercial traits

Abstract

The field experiments of gladiolus were conducted with fifteen hybrids along with check at the research farm of the Division of Floriculture & Landscaping, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi for three years from 2019 to 2021 to study their performance and suitability for commercialization. The mean performance (3 years) of gladiolus hybrid data were highly significant for all the characters studied. The results indicated that hybrid Berlew × Heady wine (Purple tall) recorded maximum plant height (145.44 cm), spike length (119.22 cm) followed by Regency open (117.88 cm) and spike length (117.88 cm) as compared to other hybrids including check. Hybrid Melody × Berlew showed earliness in floret opening (59.33 day). Maximum length of rachis was recorded in hybrid Melody open (62.06 cm) whereas minimum in Salmon Queen open (Surekha) (43.22 cm). More number of florets per spike was recorded in hybrid Mayur × Hunting Song (19.99) followed by Regency open (19.11) and Pink Parassol open (18.66). Among the hybrids studied, more number of corms per plant (2.88, 2.55, 2.44 and 2.22) were recorded in hybrids Salmon Queen open (Surekha), Salmon Queen open (Veerangana), Berlew × Heady wine (Purple tall), Mayur × Hunting Song, Pink Parassol open and Melody open respectively. Looking to the overall performance of hybrids Regency open, Berlew × Heady wine (Purple tall), Mayur × Hunting Song, Pink Parassol open, Berlew × Heady wine, Melody open and Melody × Berlew were found to be good for various traits such as cut flower and corms production in northern plains.