Effect of spacing on seed yield and quality in phlox. (Phlox drummondii. cv. Globe mix)

Abstract

Phlox, a genus of some 60 species of herbaceous perennials, hardy and half-hardy, sub-shrub, and annuals. Most of which are native to North America and Mexico, and grown for their showy flowers. Phlox belonging to Polemoniaceae. According to Walter (1933) [9], Annual phlox, Phlox drummondii is an American plant with purple flowers introduced in 1835. It has been completely eclipsed by the garden forms and is rarely seen. There are three types: the grandiflora or large flowered, height about 1 ft, the nana compact or dwarf compact, height 6-8 in., and the cuspidata or point-petalled. Seed production in this flower crop is a highly specialised task warranting expertise technical knowledge, frequent and timely attention compared to other commercial crops. The work on seed production, processing, storage and germination aspects are lacking. Several technological gaps are yet to be filled up for getting good quality seeds in this flower crop. With this background, a field experiment was carried out to study the influence of different spacing (20 ´ 10 cm, 20 ´ 20 cm, 30 ´ 10cm, 30 ´ 20 cm and 40 ´ 10 cm, 40 ´ 20 cm) on seed yield quality in phlox. The study revealed that a spacing of 40 ´ 10 cm recorded the highest seed yield of 115.3 kg ha-1 with maximum germination of 89.5 per cent.