Assessing Chrysanthemum Varietal Performance and Genetic Variability under Jhalawar, Rajasthan Condition

Abstract

In the backdrop of Jhalawar's unique climate, a comprehensive experiment was undertaken in 2019-20 to scrutinize the genetic variability and performance of ten distinct chrysanthemum varieties. The selected genotypes include Marigold, Poornima Pink, Dall White, Calcutta Shantini, Karnool, Poornima Red, Dall Yellow, Poornima White, Poornima Yellow and Dundi, each offering a unique perspective on varietal performance under the Jhalawar condition. The investigation carefully investigated ten chrysanthemum genotypes using a randomised block design with three replications. Different features were noted for each variety among them. Notably, Poornima Pink soared to the highest plant height at 37.70 cm, while Dall White exhibited the maximum main stem diameter at 1.39 cm. Calcutta Shantini stood out with highest no of leaves 331.80 and 269.90 flowers per plant. Karnool displayed maximum leaf width (7.37 cm) and flower plucking frequency (3.93), while the maximum plant spread in both E-W and N-S directions (40.83 cm and 40.20 cm, respectively) showed by Poornima White boasted, along with the highest count of primary branches per plant (7.50). Poornima Yellow demonstrated exceptional flower yield (522.86 gm) and estimated yield per hectare (326.78 q/ha). Furthermore, a maximum leaf length of 9.42 cm was recorded, showcasing the diverse attributes of these chrysanthemum varieties under the Jhalawar condition.