International Journal of Environment, Ecology,

Family and Urban Studies (IJEEFUS)

ISSN(P): 2250-0065; ISSN(E): 2321-0109
Vol. 6, Issue 5, Oct 2016, 41- 46
TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.

COMPARISON OF PERFORMANCE OF GLADIOLUS CULTIVARS

UNDER POLYHOUSE AND OPEN CONDITIONS
I. SARKAR1 & S. SHARMA2
1
2

Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, R.R.S, Hill Zone, Kalimpong, Darjeeling, West Bengal, India

Department of Floriculture, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Pundibari, Cooch Behar, West Bengal, India

ABSTRACT
An experiment was undertaken during 2013-14 to evaluate the growth, flowering and corm-cormel production
under naturally ventilated low cost polyhouse and open field condition. Polyhouse planting resulted in 24.77 per cent
increase in plant height and 22.85 per cent reduction in the time taken for flowering in comparison to open field
planting. But the corm and cormel production were reduced under polyhouse condition by 32.75 and 25.16 per cent
respectively. In the present study, there was around 18 per cent reduction in the time taken for sprouting of corms under
polyhouse condition (8.053 days). Earliness in sprouting of corms, spike emergence and quality flower production is
beneficial to gladiolus growing as it leads to availability of flowers in the market earlier. Length of spike and size of
flowers were maximum under polyhouse condition. The quality of flowers and corms were also better under protected
compared to open field planting.
KEYWORDS: Gladiolus, Open Field, Polyhouse, Evaluation

Received: Jul 28, 2016; Accepted: Sep 22, 2016; Published: Sep 26, 2016; Paper Id.: IJEEFUSOCT20165

Original Article

condition. The longevity of spikes on vase was found to increase by 16.86 per cent under polyhouse condition as

INTRODUCTION
Gladiolus, an important bulbous cut flower crop is adored all over the world for its attractive colour and
exquisite florets. Its cut spikes remain fresh at least for a week and are in great demand for presentation and
interior decoration. Gladiolus is very rich in varietal wealth with varying range of colours, shades, number of
florets and keeping quality. Hence, varietal evaluation becomes necessary to find out suitable variety for the
specific region. In West Bengal, it is commonly cultivated in open field condition. Its cultivation under polyhouse
is still in a stage of infancy. Keeping this in view the present investigation was undertaken to assess the
performance of fifteen gladiolus varieties for various growth, floral and corm production characters under both
open field and polyhouse condition.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present investigation was conducted at Regional Research Sub-station (Hill Zone), Uttar Banga
Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Pedong, Kalimpong, West Bengal during 2012-13. Fifteen varieties of gladiolus were
evaluated for growth, flowering and corm-cormel production traits under two growing environments, viz., open
field and polyhouse condition. The polyhouse was low cost and naturally ventilated. The varieties screened
included White Prosperity, Pacifica, Priscilla, Summer Sunshine, Moon Magic, Big Time Supreme, Red Beauty,
Ice Gold, Her Majesty, Poppy Tears, Tetra Horn, Interpret, Candyman, Summer Pearl, and Jester. Uniform sized

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I. Sarkar & S. Sharma

corms (3-4 cm diameter) of all the varieties were planted at 5 cm depth, with a spacing of 30x20 cm in 1x1 m2 plots.
The experiment was laid out in two factor Randomized Block Design with two replications. Uniform cultural measures
were carried out throughout the period of the investigation. Observations on different parameters of vegetative growth,
floral and corm production traits were recorded, analyzed statistically and presented in Table 1, 2 and 3 respectively.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Table 1 reveals that genotypes and growing environments have significant interactions on different aspects of the
plant development processes. Results showed that the plant height differed significantly in respect to the cultivars, growing
conditions and in their interaction effect too. The tallest plants were recorded with cv. Priscilla (132.84 cm) which is
statistically at par with cvs. Moon Magic (132.56 cm) and Poppy tears (132.26 cm). Protected cultivation increased plant
height up to 26.27% as compared to the open field culture. Interaction effect between genotypes and growing environment
reflected that cv. Poppy Tears when grown under polyshade resulted the tallest plants (149.92 cm) and cv. Interpret
produced the shortest plants under open field culture (79.78 cm) though the varietal effect showed that cv. Summer Pearl
(102.9. cm) produced the shortest plants. Increased plant height in Tulip under protected cultivation as compared to the
open field culture was also noted by Jhon and Khan (2003). Cv. Priscilla also produced longest leaves (70.23cm) but
interactive result revealed that cv. Jester under polyhouse resulted longest leaves (76.33 cm). Protected cultivation resulted
earlier sprouting of corms. Cv. Ice Gold under polyhouse recorded earliest sprouting of corms (6.42 days after planting)
and sprouting was delayed in Jester when cultivated under open condition (12.64 DAP). Cultivation of gladiolus under
polyhouse exerted better result in earliness (22.85%) of flower production also. Cv. Her Majesty when grown under
polyhouse reached the FBI stage earliest (47.69 DAP) and cv. Big Time Supreme under open field culture reached the FBI
last of all (97.29 DAP). The earliness in sprouting of corms and in flower production was recorded with protected
cultivation might be due to rise in soil temperature, inside the greenhouse as compared to the open field culture which
favours the crop to sprout early and complete the vegetative phase earlier. Similar earliness in greenhouse gladioli cv.
American Beauty was noted by Shiva and Dadlani (2002). John and Khan (2003) observed earliness in flowering of Tulip
under protected situation as compared to the open field culture.
Better effect in the qualitative characters of flowers including length of spike and rachis, no. of florets/spike,
diameter of floret, no. of florets opened at a time and post-harvest life of cut spikes was reflected in the protected
cultivation of gladiolus cultivars as compared to the field culture. Cultivars also differed significantly in their performance.
Cv. Red Beauty recorded the longest spikes (108.91 cm) but highest phl of cut spikes was recorded with cv. Jester
(15.69 days), White Prosperity having highest no. of florets per spike (17.92), cv. Poppy Tears recorded the biggest florets
(11.90 cm) and maximum number of florets opened at a time was recorded with cvs. Moon Magic and Jester (6.85).
Interaction effect between the genotypes and growing conditions revealed that cv. Poppy Tears when grown under
polyhouse produced the tallest spikes (122.42 cm) and rachis length (87.85 cm) among the 15 cultivars and Interpret in
open culture produced the smaller spikes (64.44 cm). No. of florets/spike was found highest with the cv. White Prosperity
under protected condition (18.37) and longest with cv. Her Majesty under open culture (11.53). Cv. Summer Sunshine
under polyhouse produced the largest florets (12.44 cm diameter) and the shortest florets were obtained from cv. Ice Gold
under open culture (8.84 cm). Maximum no. of florets/spike opened at a time in cv. Jester under polyhouse (7.47) and
minimum in cv. Poppy Tears under open culture (4.42). The difference in the quality of flowers within the 15 cultivars
might be due to the varietal character and the improvement in the quality of flowers under protected situation was probably
Impact Factor (JCC): 3.7216

NAAS Rating: 3.63

Comparison of Performance of Gladiolus Cultivars under Polyhouse and Open Conditions

43

due to polyhouse environment which favours the growth, development and flowering of certain cultivars of gladiolus.
The increase in spike length up to 27.75% and 16.86% increase in post-harvest life of cut spikes as compared to the open
field culture was recorded. Gaikwad et al (2002) reported increased yield and improvement in quality of flowers in
chrysanthemum under protected condition. Gupta et al. (2002) reported that Jester and White Prosperity produced long
spikes among eight gladiolus cultivars. Improved quality of flower spikes under protected condition was obtained as
compared to the open field culture of gladiolus was also observed by Mackay et al. (1981a).

CONCLUSIONS
Polyhouse culture of gladiolus though reduced the production of corms/plant up to 32.75% and cormlets/plant up
to 25.16% but the quality of corm like weight and diameter was found better under such situation. The rise in corm weight
up to 12.01% and diameter up to 24.77% as compared to open cultivation revealed this fact. Cultivars differed in the
propensity of corm and cormlets production which was found highest with cvs. Summer Sunshine (2.59 corms/plant), Red
Gold (60.63 cormlets/plant) and least corm and cormlet bearing/producing cultivars were cv. Pacifica (1.23 corms/plant)
and cv. Trader Horn (22.44 cormlets/plant) respectively. The interaction effect between genotype and growing condition
showed that cv. Summer Sunshine under open culture produced the highest no. of corms/plant (3.14) whereas cv. Pacifica
under protected situation produced the lowest no. of corms/plant (1.05). Quality of corms like the heaviest corm (74.74 g)
was recorded with cv. Red Beauty and greater diameter (7.14 cm) was recorded with cv. Priscilla under protected condition
respectively. Lighter corms recorded with cv. Poppy Tears (27.73 g) and shortest diameter was obtained from cv.
Her Majesty (3.45 cm) under open culture respectively. Cormel production was found highest with cv. Red Beauty under
open condition (73.36 cormlets/plant) and lowest with cv. Trader Horn (16.91) under protected condition. The reduction in
the corm and cormlet production under protected condition might be due to shorter crop duration where developmental
places up to flowering was not affected utilizing majority of the produced and stored foods and produced larger spikes with
higher number and size of florets but lower duration between the harvesting of flowers and corm & cormlets as compared
to open culture might cause imbalance in distribution and supply of food for development of underground modified storage
organs and hence larger spikes and florets were produced at the cost of reduction in number of corms and cormlets/plant.
Environmental factors favoured flower production at the expense of corm and cormelet production due to efficient
utilization of available photosynthates was also reported by McKay et al. (1981,b). Corm and cormlet production is a
varietal character and it differs with genotype is also reported by Swaroop et al. (2005).
REFERENCES
1.

Gaikwad, A.M.; S.M. Katwate, and C.A. Nimbalkar, (2002). Evaluation of chrysanthemum varieties under polyhouse
conditions. South Indian Horticulture, 50(4-6): 624-628.

2.

Gomez, K.A. and A.A. Gomez, (1984). Statistical procedure for Agricultural Research, John Wiley & Sons, Singapore.

3.

Gupta, P., Pathak, A.C. and Banatar, R.N.S. (2002). Studies on the performance of gladiolus (Gladiolus hybridus Hort.)
cultivars in Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh. South Indian Horticulture. 50 (4-6): 641-644.

4.

Jhon, A.Q. and F.U. Khan, (2003). Evaluation of tulips under polyhouse and open conditions. Journal of Ornamental
Horticulture, 6(1): 42-45.

5.

McKay, M.E.; D.E. Byth, and J.A. Tommerup, (1981a). Environmental responses of gladioli in south-east Queensland.
Scientia Horticulture, 14: 77-92.

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I. Sarkar & S. Sharma

6.

McKay, M.E.; J.A. Tommerup, and D.E. Byth, (1981b). The influence of photoperiod and plant density on yield of wintergrown gladioli in Queensland. Scientia Horticulture, 17: 277-288.

7.

Shiva, K.N. and N.K. Dadlani, (2002). Effect of growing environments on growth, flowering and corm production of gladiolus.
South Indian Horticulture. 50(4-6): 635-640.

8.

Swaroop, K.; K.P. Singh, and K.P. Singh, (2005). Performance of gladiolus under Delhi condiotion. Journal of Ornamental
Horticulture, 8(1): 32-35

APPENDICIES
Table 1: Vegetative Growth of Gladiolus Cultivars under Playhouse and Open Conditions

Table 2: Flowering of Gladiolus Cultivars under Polyhouse and Open Conditions

Impact Factor (JCC): 3.7216

NAAS Rating: 3.63

Comparison of Performance of Gladiolus Cultivars under Polyhouse and Open Conditions

45

Table 3: Corm and Cormel Production of Gladiolus Cultivars under Polyhouse and Open Conditions

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