Response of exotic gerbera under low (Gerbera jamesonii) cost polyhouse and shade net house in sub-tropical mid hills of Meghalaya

A study was conducted to evaluate the 17 exotic cultivars of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Bolus ex Hooker F.) under low-cost bamboo made polyhouse and shade net (50%) house for their growth, flowering, quality and yield for suitability under Meghalaya conditions, during 2008-09. The results revealed that low-cost bamboo made polyhouse-grown gerbera plants produced significantly more number of suckers/ plant, flower and stalk diameter, number of flowers/plant/ month and vase-life than grown under shade net house. Among the 17 cultivars studies, cultivars Diego, Lieke, Lion, Pound Sterling, Torbin, Venicie and Wall Street were found promising under low-cost polyhouse and recommended for commercial cultivation for Meghalaya.