Performance of gladiolus genotypes for different vegetative and flowering traits

Field experiments were carried out for two subsequent years to ascertain the growth behaviour and flowering performance of twenty gladiolus varieties. The experiment was conducted in reclaimed acid soils. Growth and development parameters gave encouraging results. Plant height 180.00 cm and 168.00 cm was found in variety Manohar and Friendship respectively. Diameter of stem, leaves and spike characters were found appreciable. Buds, flowering span and florets parameters were found outstanding in performance. Vegetative traits were found to contribute to reproductive parameters where spike length, florets per spike and flowering span revealed outstanding performance of different genotypes of gladiolus. Minimum days 63.50 and 65.26 were found for spike development in varieties Archana and Classic in 201213 and 2013–14, respectively.