Study on the Evaluation Genetic Variability of Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus) Cultivars Under Agro –Climatic Conditions of Prayagraj

Aims: A field experiment was carried out to “Study on Evaluating Genetic Variability of Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus L.) Cultivars under Agro –Climatic conditions of Prayagraj”.

Place and Duration of Study: An experiment was carried out in the Department of Horticulture during the Rabi season of 2023-2024.

Study Design: Randomized Block Design.

Methodology: The analysis of the data showed that phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all characters studied, indicating that environmental factors had a significant influence on these characters. In addition, positive and highly significant correlations were observed in between tuber yield per plant (gm) and various other traits including the No. of leaves at 30DAS, 60DAS and 90DAS and No. of shoots per plant, days for the first flowering, peduncle length, No. of florets per spike, No. of ears per plant, length of floret, diameter of floret, No. of corms per plant and diameter of corms, weight of corms and No. of corms per hectare and No. of corms per hectare.

Results: The mean sum of squares due to genotypes showed significant differences for all characters under study for except days taken for emergence of flower spike and days taken to show color of basal floret. High magnitude of GCV were recorded for No. of leaves (52.70), Corm yield/plant (46.40), No. of cormels/hectare(39.12), Cormel diameter(38.36), No. of corms/hectare(28.97), No. of corms per plant(28.97), No. of leaves at 60DAS(26.64), No. of shoot(26.64). The genotypic and phenotypic correlation coefficient of different characters with Corms yield/plant (g) and their relationship among themselves

Conclusion: Genotypic and Phenotypic correlation revealed that corms weight/plant (g) showed positive significant association with plant height, number of leavesper plant, number of shoots per plant, rachis length, no. of cormels per hectare and corm yield/ plant at both levels genotypic and phenotypic.