Study On Evaluating Genetic Variability of Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus L.) Cultivars under Agro-Climatic Conditions of Prayagraj

Abstract

Aim: An experiment to Study on genetic variability of Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus L.) 20 Cultivars. Based on the present investigation it was concluded that the high magnitude of heritability (in broad sense) coupled with high genetic gain was observed for most of traits exhibiting additive genetic effect. The analysis of variance for different quantitative characters reviled significant differences among the varieties for parameters like Growth, Spike yield and Vase life with Corms weight/plant (g) of gladiolus. Study Design: Randomized block design with three replications. Place and Duration of study: Experiment was conducted at the Department of Horticulture, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, during September, 2023 to March, 2024 to find out the best performing variety for this region. Results: The highest corms yield/plant (g/plant) of genotype was observed in Friendship (106.72) followed by Chandini and Sunayana.  It was observed that PCV was higher than GCV for all the traits studied highest GCV and PCV is recorded as weight of daughter corm (21.30 and 22.17). In the present study the heritability estimates in broad sense were classified into 3 groups such as high (>75%), moderate (60% - 75%), low (<60%). The heritability estimates were found to be high (more than 75%).  In the present study the heritability estimates in broad sense were classified into 3 groups such as high (>75%), moderate (60% - 75%), low (<60%). The heritability estimates were found to be high (more than 75%). Conclusion: Genotypic and phenotypic correlation coefficient analysis revealed that Corms weight/plant (g) showed positive significant association with  plant height, number of leaves per plant, number of shoots per plant, rachis length (cm), no. of floret per spike, no. of spike per plant, floret diameter (cm), spike length (cm), vase life, corm weight per plot (g), weight of mother corm per plot, weight of daughter corm, corm diameter (cm), no. of corm per hectare, no. of cormels per hectare and  corm yield/plant at both levels genotypic and phenotypic.