Effect of pre plant soaking of corms in growth regulators on sprouting, vegetative growth and corm formation in Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus L.)

Abstract

Field experiments was carried out at Horticulture Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of agriculture Technology and sciences Allahabad during November 2016 to April 2017 to study the effect of different concentrations of plant growth regulators on different varieties of gladiolus. Treatment consisted of GA3 @ 200 ppm and 300 ppm, BA @ 250 ppm and 300 ppm along with control on three varieties of Gladiolus viz., Deepest Red, Jessica and Estabonita. Experiment was laid-out in a Factorial Randomized Block Design and with three replications. The results revealed that various growth, flowering and corm characters were significantly affected with the application of different growth regulators at different concentrations. Earliness in corm sprouting, maximum vegetative growth observed with GA3 200 ppm. Maximum number of shoots per corm was recorded by Benzyl Adenine (BA) @ 300 ppm with variety Jessica. BA was responsible for multiple sprouting which was responsible for formation of multiple corms.