Effect of spacing and growing conditions on growth and quality of gypsophila (Gypsophila paniculata L.) cut flowers

The present investigation was carried out to study the growth and quality response of gypsophila to different spacing and growing condition. Bengaluru during 2018–20. The experiment was laid out in a Factorial Randomized Complete Block Design (FRCBD) comprising of two factors. Results revealed that among growth parameters, plant height, plant spread (East-West and North- South), number of primary and secondary branches, leaf area and flower stalk length and girth were highest in plants grown under polyhouse condition (G1). Among the different spacing, maximum growth parameters were recorded in S4 (50 cm × 50 cm) spaced plants. In G × S interaction, plants grown under polyhouse with wider spacing (50 cm × 50 cm) were taller (96.00 cm) compared to plants grown in shade house. Significant increase in plant spread: East-West (67.42 cm), plant spread: North-South (66.76 cm), number of primary branches (16.15), number of secondary branches (30.55) and leaf area (24.05 cm2) after 90 days of planting while, shade grown plants with narrow spacing recorded the least growth. Quality parameters like flowers stalk length (63.29 cm) and girth (6.77 mm) after 90 days of planting significantly increased in plants grown under polyhouse condition with the spacing of 50 cm × 50 cm.