Varietal evaluation of french marigold (tagetes patula linn.) under mid-hill zone of Himachal Pradesh

Analysis of variance showed highly significant variation among cultivars for all the traits studied. Cultivar ‘Safari Queen’ recorded maximum plant height (35.80 cm), flower yield per square meter (8.27 kg), seed yield per plant (0.54g), and seed yield per square mater (9.06g). Plant spread (30.37 cm) was recorded maximum in cv. ‘Harmony Boy’ The cultivar ‘Bonanza Bolero’ recorded maximum values for three traits viz. leaf area (34.58 cm2).flower diameter (5.26 cm) and 1000-seed weight (2.60g). Maximum duration of flowering was recorded in cv. ‘Safari Tangerine’ (39.67 days) which was at par picking (131.11 g) was observed in cv. ‘Honey Comb’. Cultivar ‘Cupid on Varied Orange’ resulted highest 100- loose flower weight. Maximum carotene content of 3747.50 μg/g was obtained in cv. ‘Homey Comb’ which was at par with cv. ‘Hero Harmony’ (3745.83μg/g). Maximum storage duration of 8.67 days and 4.00 days was obtained in cv .’Cupid on Varie Orange’ under could store and ambient conditions, respectively.