Genetic Variability of Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus) Cultivar under Prayagraj Agro-Climatic Conditions in Uttar Pradesh, India

An experiment to Study on genetic variability of Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus) cultivars under prayagraj agro-climatic conditions was carried out at Departmental research field of Horticulture, Naini Agriculture Institute during the Rabi season of 2021-2022 with Eight Cultivars in randomized block design with three replications. The viz. White prosperity, Mohini, Hunting song, Creamy green, Suchitra, Samara, Nova, Peterpears. Evaluated were out of twenty-five cultivars means estimated Genetic variability, heritability, phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and genotypic correlation. The characters, Plant height at (30, 60, 90 DAS), Number of leaves per plant at (30,60,90 DAS), No. of shoot per plant, Days taken for corm sprouting, Rachis length, Days taken to spike emergence, days taken colour break stage, No. of floret per spike, No. of spike per plant, No. of days taken for first floret open, No. of days taken for last floret open, spike length, floret diameter, vase life, Weight of daughter corm, Weight of mother corm, corm diameter, corm weight, No. of corm per hectare, No. of cormels per hectare and Corm yield/plant observed for all characters. Highest GCV and PCV were recorded for Weight of daughter corm (g) (33.6786 and 47.569), No. of cormels per hectare (37.743 and 37.97), No. of corm per hectare (27.961 and 32.13), No. of days taken for first floret open (30.0614 and 30.0889), Corm yield/plant (23.667 and 29.334), Weight of mother corm (25.6022 and 28.1499),Corm weight (21.75 and 25.49), Days taken for corm sprouting (23.7566 and 23.7566) and lowest GCV and PCV were recorded for No. of floret per spike (2.7578 and 3.3549). The genotypes Creamy green and White prosperity were found to produce the highest spike yields per plot and the highest numbers of corm per hectare, respectively. These genotypes may be sown for higher yields and showed a good response to selection due to their high heritability, variability, and genetic advance, which showed additive gene effect. These genotypes can be utilised to selectively increase yield and component attributes.