Evaluation of ICAR-IIHR-developed Gladiolus Cultivars under Rainy-season Conditions in Hajo, Kamrup District, Assam, India

Abstract

Gladiolus is an important cut-flower crop whose commercial performance depends strongly on cultivar adaptation to the production environment. The present study evaluated six gladiolus cultivars developed by ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (ICAR-IIHR)—Arka Amar, Arka Aayush, Arka Kesar, Arka Arati, Arka Tilak, and Arka Gold—against a local cultivar under rainy-season conditions in the Hajo region of Kamrup district, Assam. Planting was undertaken in July 2024 at Kulhati, Pakarkona, and Bongshar, and the study was analysed using a randomised block design with seven treatments and three replications, with the three locations serving as replications in the reported analysis. Corms were planted at 30 cm × 20 cm spacing under open-field conditions and managed uniformly. Five floral traits were evaluated: days to spike emergence, spike length, rachis length, number of florets per spike, and floret size. Significant varietal differences were recorded for the measured traits. Arka Amar showed the earliest spike emergence (65.5 days), the longest spike (88.5 cm), the longest rachis (72.4 cm), the highest number of florets per spike (15.4), and the largest numerical floret size (8.9 cm). Relative to the local cultivar, Arka Amar reached spike emergence 26.0% earlier and recorded increases of 37.4% in spike length, 44.2% in rachis length, 35.1% in florets per spike, and 18.7% in floret size. Arka Aayush and Arka Kesar also performed well for several floral traits. No visible Fusarium wilt symptoms were noted during routine field observation; however, no quantitative disease-screening protocol was included, and the observation therefore cannot be interpreted as evidence of resistance. The findings indicate that Arka Amar is a promising cultivar for rainy-season cut-flower production in the tested Hajo locations, while multi-season validation would strengthen recommendations for wider cultivation in Assam.