Evaluation of Standard chrysanthemum (Dendrathetma grandiflora Tzvelve.) cultivars under polyhouse cum rain-shelter and open field conditions

Eighteen Standard chrusanthemum(Dendrathema grandiflora Tzvelve.) cultivars were evaluted to study their performance under polyhouse cum rain-shelter and open conditions, during 2002–2003, at the Experimental Farm, Department of Horticulture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat. Performance of cultivars for growth characters in general was higher under open conditions while that for flower characters under polyhouse cum rain-shelter conditions. There was considerable earliness with regard to days to full bloom of the cultivars under open conditions (79.60 day) compared to polyhouse cum rain-shelter conditions (88.40 day). However, cv. Bolare Deo bloomed earlier inside polyhouse (70.33 day) compared to open conditions (79.67 day) arid it was also the earliest cultivar to bloom over the two conditions (75.00 day). Maximum flower size over the two conditions was recorded for Snow Ball (19.81cm) and Sonar Bangla (18.08 cm). Snow Ball bloomed for maximum number of days (30.00) over two conditios and for additional five day inside polyhouse (33.33 day) compared to open conditions (27.67 day). Snow Ball also exhibited maximum vase life (18.25 day), with enhancement of its vase life by four day inside polyhouse (20 day) compard to open conditions (16 day). However, almost all the cultivars exhibited maximum blooming period and vase life inside polyhouse as compared to open conditions.