Evaluation of Gladiolus Cultivars Under sub-tropical Hills of Meghalaya

Thirty one gladiolus cultivars (20 Indian and 11 exotic) were evaluated for cut flower and corm production purposes at the ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam (Meghalava). The morphological characters studied have showed significant differences among the cultivars. Pusa Dhanvantari was found superior with respect to plant height (115.83 cm), length (60.00 cm) and breadth (4.60 cm) of leaf, leaves/plant (9.00), spike length (90 33 cm), equatorial diameter of corm (2.23 cm) and propagation coefficient (250.00%). Cultivar Smoky Lady recorded earliest heading (63.50 day), first floret showing colour (71.22 day), full opening of first floret (73.87 day) with maximum florets open at first (3.32), while Pusa Dhanvantari was late in flowering. Among the cultivars studied, Jester Gold recorded maximum florets/spike (14.30) and longest rachis (50.16 cm). However, larger floret (10.00 cm), maximum polar diameter of corm (2.59 cm) and cormels/plant (62.00) were observed in Chandler. Maximum diameter (6.88 cm) and weight (87.22 g) of corm was found in Pusa Archana and Pusa Sagun, respectively. Cultivar Light Purple recorded maximum cormel weight (11.36 g)/mother corm.