Effect of gamma-irradiation on the performance of different Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus L.) cultivars

AbstractAn experiment titled "Effect of Gamma-irradiation on the performance of different gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus L.) cultivars" was conducted at the Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, College of Horticulture, Mandsaur, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior (M.P.) from November 2022 to April 2023. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of gamma irradiation on different cultivars at three levels: 0.75, 1.75 and 2.75 kr along with an untreated (control). Four cultivars of gladiolus viz. Jyotsana, Happy End, Dhanvantari and Green Star were taken. The research was carried out under field conditions using a Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD) comprising 16 treatments replicated three times. In this experiment, different morphological characteristics i.e., sprouting of 50% corms, plant height at 45 days after planting, number of leaves per plant at 45 days after planting and number of corms per hill were studied. Data revealed that the earliest sprouting of 50% corms was recorded with 0.75 kr gamma irradiation in cultivar Jyotsana. The maximum number of sprouts per hill was recorded with 0.75 kr gamma irradiation in cultivar Green Star, maximum plant height was also reported with 0.75 and 1.75 kr gamma rays in cultivar Jyotsana. Treatment 0.75 kr gamma irradiation with Green Stars shows the best performance concerning the number of leaves per plant. The maximum length of the longest leaf was observed. 0.75 kr gamma-ray in cultivar Jyotsana, maximum width of the longest leaf was observed. 1.75 kr gamma-ray in cultivar Happy End, the maximum number of corms per hill was observed. 0.75 kr gamma-ray in cultivar Green Star and maximum corm diameter was recorded at 0.75 kr gamma irradiation in cultivar Jyotsana.