Genetic variability in gladiolus genotypes for corm characters

Variability studies among 35 gladiolus genotypes [11 Indian and 24 exotic] for seven corm characters conducted at the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta, Bangalore during 1998–99 revealed that, all the genotypes exhibited wide range of number of cormels per corm. For all the seven characters studied, the differences between phenotypic and genotypic co-efficients of variation were narrow indicating less environmental influences on their expression. High phenotypic and genotypic co-efficients of variations, heritability and genetic advance recorded for number of daughter corm, number of cormels per corm and 25 cormel weight suggests selection of genotypes based on these traits for further improvement through effective breeding programmes.