Journal of Ornamental Horticulture

The present study was conducted at Model Floriculture Centre, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, U.S. Nagar, Uttarakhand during 2014–2015 to study the performance of seven China aster genotypes in tarai region of Uttarakhand. The results showed high variation in performance of all the seven genotypes for vegetative growth, flowering and seed characters. The plant height (53.77 cm), days to first flower bud initiation (86.76 days), days to 50% flowering (122.66 days), stalk length (18.45 cm), number of cut flowers per plant (12.50), single flower fresh weight (4.55g), loose flower yield per plant (73.84g) and seed yield per plant (1.96g) were noted maximum in genotype Phule Ganesh Purple. Phule Ganesh Pink recorded maximum with plant spread (27.49 cm), number of leaves per plant (46.71), flower diameter (5.96 cm) flowering duration (81.66 days) and vase life (11.77 days). Minimum value for plant spread (15.39 cm) stem girth (5.93 mm), number of leaves per plant (18.03), number of primary branches per plant (4.50), number of secondary branches per plant (3.26), days to first flower bud initiation (55.70 days) and days to 50% flowering (89.66 days), number of cut flowers per plant (4.83), number of loose flowers per plant (10.23) and loose flower yield per plant (42.41g) were observed in genotype Poornima. Genotype Kamini had minimum (29.14 cm) plant height. Phule Ganesh White recorded maximum bud diameter i.e.13.98 mm whereas Phule Ganesh Pink recorded maximum vase life (11.77 days). On the basis of the findings of present study, this may be concluded that genotypes Phule Ganesh Purple and Phule Ganesh Pink are most suitable for commercial cultivation of China aster for obtaining a remunerative cut flowers and loose flowers and seed yield under tarai region of Uttarakhand.