Influence of gibberellic acid and planting dates on vegetaitve growth and flowering production in gladiolus cv. Yellow Frilled

The present investigation was conducted during the year 2004–05 in rabi season to find out the influence of gibberellic acid (GA₃) and planting dates on vegetative growth and flowering production in Gladiolus cv. Yellow Frilled, at S.D.A.U., S.K. Nagar (Gujarat) in a factorial randomized complete block design with three replications. The results revealed that earliest sprouting of corm was in early planting at 25^th October, 2004. Whereas, maximum plant height (60.39 cm, 85.51 cm and 103.30 cm at 30, 60 and 90 DAP, respectively), no. of leaves plant⁻¹ (5.42, 9.42 and 10.26 at 30, 60 and 90 DAP, respectively), leaf area plant⁻¹ (161.36 cm²), early spike emergence (75.00 days), numbers of spike plant⁻¹ (1.38) and numbers plot⁻¹ (12.89), spike length (66.12 cm), rachis length (37.50 cm), no. of florets spike ⁻¹ (10.36) and flowering duration (10.78 days) were recorded under the earliest planting date i.e. 25^th October. Whereas gladiolus corms dipping with GA₃ @ 100 ppm was proved to be the best for earliest corm sprouting, improving plant height, number of leaves plant⁻¹, leaf area plant⁻¹, early spike emergence, numbers of spikes, spike length, rachis length, numbers of florets spike⁻¹, flower duration and vase life. From the results of the investigation, it is concluded that gladiolus planting on 25^th October along with corms dipping with gibberellic acid 100 ppm at the time of planting is the most effective for improving the growth and flowering characters.