Assessment of Gladiolus Varieties for Growth and Floral Yield in Open Field Cultivation

Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus L.) a widely cultivated ornamental bulbous crop, valued for its vibrant flower spikes, diverse color range and extended vase life. This study evaluated the growth and floral performance of eight gladiolus cultivars under open-field conditions in Karnataka, India. The experiment was conducted at the College of Horticulture, Bagalkot by following a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications, assessing 8 cultivars including Arka Ayush, Arka Amar, Arka Tilak, Arka Darshna, Punjab Pink Elegance, Manhattan, S. Lady and Dhanvantari. Significant variations were observed in growth traits such as plant height, leaf number, leaf length and leaf area. Arka Amar recorded the tallest plants (111 cm) and the highest leaf number (12), while Dhanvantari exhibited the largest leaf area (114.72 cm²). In terms of floral traits, Arka Darshna produced the highest number of spikes per plant (2.54) and Arka Amar demonstrated superior spike length (75 cm), rachis length (42.3 cm) and floret count (13). The largest floret diameter (9.1 cm) was observed in Arka Tilak, whereas Dhanvantari and Manhattan consistently displayed lower growth and floral metrics. The findings highlighted the diverse performance of gladiolus cultivars under local conditions, with Arka Amar and Arka Darshna emerging as promising options for enhanced productivity and ornamental value. This study provides valuable insights for selecting cultivars suited to open-field cultivation in Karnataka.