Effect of different grades of mother corms and planting distances on growth, flowering and multiplication in gladiolus under Meghalaya conditions

Two experiments were carried out to study the effect of different grades of mother corms and spacings on growth, flowering, corm and cormel production in gladiolus cv. Pusa Jyotsena, in RBD, at ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, during 2004–2005. The treatments consist of five grades (diam. in cm) of mother corms i.e. >1.90 to 2.50 (S1), >2.50 to =3.20 (S2), >3.20 to =3.80 (S3), >3.80 to =5.10 (S4 and >5.10 to 6.00 (S5), which were planted at a distance of 20cmx30cm and four planting spacings viz., 10 x 30,20 x 30,30 x 30 and 40 x 30cm between plants and rows. Planting of large sized corms (S5 significantly induced early flowering and recorded increased plant height, leaf breadth, length of spike and rachis, florets/spike and cormels/plant with corresponding increase in weight when compared to medium or small sized conns. Planting of corms at wider spacing also significantly increased leaf length, plant height, flowering duration, length of spike and rachis, florets/spike, number of corms and cormels and their weight.