Genetic diversity in gladiolus

Multivariate analysis of divergence among 25 varieties of gladiolus for 16 developmental characters led to their grouping into five clusters. The first cluster had four varieties while the second had only one. Cluster III was the biggest with 1.1 varieties whereas cluster V and IV had two and seven varieties (6 varieties and 1 hybrid), respectively. Based on cluster means, characters like days for initial flowering, leaf area, days for last floret opening, number of corms and cormels produced per plant and propagation coefficient were the major factors for differentiation among the 25 genotypes. The intercluster D² values ranged from 11.417 to 84.953 suggesting very little domestication in this crop.