Assessment of Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Bolus ex. Hooker f.) Cultivars under Polyhouse Condition

Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Bolus ex. Hooker F.) being one of the most important cut flower crop grown in many parts of the world, stands 6th in the international market flower trade. An evaluation study on Gerbera under polyhouse condition was conducted at RHREC, UHS campus, G.K.V.K. Bangalore, during 2011–12. Among the nine cultivars studied there was a significant various for growth, cut flower yield and quality parameters under polyhouse (NVPH). The cv. Sonata recorded highest (26.6) number of leaves, plant height was maximum (39.5 cm) in cv. Kyillian and plant spread (N/S and E/W) was maximum in cv. Julia (77.8 and 74.6 cm). Among flowering characters early bud appearance was noted in cv. Kyillian (38 days), cv. dameblanche took minimum days taken for 50 per cent flowering (92.3) and it comes to first harvest was recorded 73 days and blooming period was maximum in (25.6 days) in cv. Sonata. Flowering characters such as stalk length, stem thickness and stem neck thickness was maximum in cv. Julia (72.4, 0.88 and 0.66 cm), flower diameter was maximum in cv. Kyillian (10.6 cm) and diameter of disc florets was maximum in cv. Figaro (7.1 cm). Significant difference was observed in yield parameters. Flowers yieldper plant and per meter square was maximum in cv. Sonata (9.8 and 109 flowers respectively), maximum vase life was recorded in cv. Julia (12.3 days).