Effect of Chemicals on Dormancy Breaking, Growth, Flowering and Multiplication in Gladiolus

Response of BA, GA₃ and thiourea and period of soaking showed significant effect on breaking dormancy, growth, flowering and multiplication of gladiolus cv. American Beauty. Soaking of corms for 24 h was more influencing than 12 h soaking for plant height, number of days taken to first flower opening, spike length, stalk length, rachis length, flower diameter, corm weight and number of cormels/plant. All chemicals had significant effect over control in terms of sprouting, growth, flowering and corm multiplication. Thiourea was most effective at lower concentrations. Corm multiplication was highest in BA at 75 mg/1. Soaking of corms for 24 h in 0.5% of thiourea was found to be the best for shortening the dormancy period of corms and improving vegetative and floral attributes.