Correlation studies in gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Bolus ex Hooker F.) genotypes

An investigation was carried out to study the correlation between various vegetative and floral characters in 13 genotypes of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Bolus ex Hooker F.) under polyhouse conditions in the mid hill conditions of Garhwal Himalayas. Correlation revealed that positive and significant correlation was observed between plant height and number of cut flowers per plant (0.506). Diameter of stalk had highly significant and positive correlation with diameter of flower (0.724**). There was highly significant and positive correlation between plant height and plant spread (0.823**) whereas, leaf length had highly significant and positive correlation with leaf width (0.716**), leaf area (0.645*), stalk length (0.756**) and diameter of stalk (0.743**). Leaf length had positive correlation with plant spread (0.567*), number of suckers per plant (0.532), stalk length (0.756**) and diameter of flower stalk (0.743**). While, leaf width was positively correlated with days taken to appearance of first bud (0.269) and diameter of flower stalk (0.558*). Plant spread was significantly and negatively correlated with days taken to appearance of first bud (−0.568*) whereas, all other plant growth parameters showed positive but non-significant correlation with plant spread. In the present study, stalk length was positively correlated with diameter of flower stalk (0.537) and diameter of flower (0.535), whereas, it was negatively correlated with number of cut flowers (−0.179), vase life in water (−0.512) as well as in holding solution (−0.615*).