Effect of harvesting stage, seasonal variation and endogenous carbohydrate level on keeping quality of gladiolus cultivars

In three cvs. of gladilus viz., Suchitra, Sancerre and White Prosperity, stages of harvest significantly affected vase life of the spikes. Spikes harvested at S, (when basal 1–2 florets showed colour) stage exhibited less vase life than those harvested at S, (when 5–7 florets showed colour) stage. Spikes harvested in the months of October and April also exhibited less vase life than those harvested in Janurary, Among the three cultivars, Suchitra had minimum vase life whereas White Prosperity had maximum. Starch content of the florets was low in October and April but high in January. It was also higher at S1 stage than at S2 On the contrary, contents of total soluble and reducing sugars were low at S1 stage than at S2. The contents were also low in October and April but high in January. Florets of cv. White Prosperity showed the maximum sugar content.