Assessment of tuberose (Polianthes tuberose L.) varieties for higher productivity

Abstract

On Farm Trail on “Assessment of tuberose varieties for higher productivity” was carried out at farmers’ field of Thathagoundanpati village of Alanganallur Block of Madurai District to assess the tuberose hybrids suitable for Madurai district of Tamil Nadu to replacing the local variety was aimed at. Prajwal, Phule Rajani and Local check (Farmers practice) were used for the study. Prajwal and Phule Rajani tubers were purchased and distributed to five identified farmers. The treatments were comprised of tuberose bulbs were treated with Pseudomonas fluorescens (10g per litre of water) and planted in the farmers field and followed recommended package of practices recommendations of TNAU, Coimbatore. Observations on plant height (cm), days taken for sprouting (days), days taken for flowering, spike length (cm), number of florets per spike, 100 florets weight (g), yield per ha (t/ha) and B:C ratio were recorded. The results revealed that Prajwal recorded the highest values in days taken for sprouting (13.0 days), plant height (115.25 cm), number of leaves per plant (258.0) and days taken for flowering (135.0 days) followed by Phule Rajani. Farmer practices (local check) recorded the lowest values of all the traits viz., days taken for sprouting (20.0 days), plant height (98.5 cm), number of leaves per plant (220.0) and days taken for flowering (162.30 days). In the case of flower characters, Prajwal recorded the longer spike length (98.2 cm), number of florets per spike (42.0), number of flower stalk per plant (5.8) and 100 florets weight (95.6 g). Whereas farmers practices observed the lowest values of the traits like spike length (52.5 cm), number of florets per spike (31.0), number of flower stalk per plant (3.5) and 100 florets weight (85.1 g). Prajwal recorded the highest flower yield of 15.2 t/ha whereas farmers practices observed the lowest yield of 10.1 t/ha. In the case of B:C ratio, Prajwal recorded the highest ratio of 3.76 followed by Phule Rajani (2.92) while farmers practices recorded the lowest B:C ratio of 2.57. Conclusion of the present study, Prajwal was found suitable for Madurai district of Tamil Nadu in terms of yield and market values and conducted Front Line Demonstrations of the ensuing season.