Evaluation of Chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelve) Varieties for Growth, Quality and Yield Under Northern Dry Zone of Karnataka

AbstractChrysanthemum is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant widely cultivated in India for both cut and loose flower production. These flowers are highly prized for their diverse shapes, sizes, unique forms, and vibrant colours. Due to their early blooming nature, efficient propagation techniques, and ease of cultivation, they offer great potential for commercial farming. Their appealing characteristics make them a profitable choice for growers. Aresearch study was conducted during 2024-25 at the experimental block of the Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, College of Horticulture, Bagalkot. The objective was to evaluate chrysanthemum varieties for loose flower production in the Northern Dry Zone of Karnataka. The experiment followed a Randomized Block Design with three replications, assessing eight chrysanthemum cultivars Poorva White, Poornima White, Poornima Yellow, Solo White, Scent White, Samruddhi White, Scent Yellow, and Aiswarya Yellow, based on growth and flowering parameters. Among the cultivars, Poornima Yellow recorded the tallest plant height (69.33 cm), produced the highest number of flowers per plant (68.33), and yielded the most flowers per plant (620.20 gm). Solo White had the greatest number of primary and secondary branches (19.00 & 17.62) and showed extensive plant spread in both east-west (44.07 cm) and north-south directions (83.70 cm). Scent White recorded the highest individual flower weight (17.46 gm). The earliest flowering, at 50% bloom (88.33 d), was observed in Poornima White, while Aishwarya Yellow had the shortest flowering duration (33.38 d). Aishwarya Yellow also exhibited the longest shelf life (5.74 d), whereas Scent Yellow showed the highest chlorophyll content (62.36 SPAD). Based on the findings, Poornima Yellow, Scent White, and Solo White were identified as the most suitable chrysanthemum cultivars for commercial cultivation in the Northern Dry Zone of Karnataka.