Screening of loose flower cultivars of chrysanthemum for vegetative and flower characteristics under Punjab conditions

Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) is a popular flower and occupies an important position in the National and International flower market due to wide range of colours, flower shapes, size, growth habit and uses. Ten chrysanthemum varieties suitable for loose flower production were evaluated at Research Farm, Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, PAU, Ludhiana. The mean temperature during vegetative growth phase and flower development i.e. in the month of August was 33.3°C and in the month of November was 28.5°C. Vegetative parameters like, plant height, plant spread, number of branches, suckers and flowering characteristics such as days to flower opening, colour shown stage, number of flowers per plant, flower size, flowering duration were recorded. Among the evaluated varieties, ‘Punjab Shingar’ exhibited the maximum plant height, number of branches, number of suckers per plant, weight of loose flower per plant, flowering duration and number of flowers per plant. The variety ‘Basanti’ took the minimum days to flower opening whereas, the maximum days for flower opening were recorded in ‘Ratlam Selection’. The maximum plant spread was recorded in ‘Ratlam Selection’ followed by ‘Punjab Shingar’. The shelf life was recorded to be the highest in Punjab Shingar followed by ‘Ratlam Selection’. Among all the varieties evaluated ‘Punjab Shingar’ and Raltam Selection performed best with regard to all the growth and flowering parameters under agro climatic conditions of Punjab.