Effect of corm priming on growth and development in gladiolus (Gladiolus (Tourn) L.)

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the influence of corm priming on morphological, biochemical, and propagation traits of gladiolus cv. Arka Amar. Treatments included potassium nitrate (1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%), thiourea (1.5%, 2.0%, 2.5%), Benzylaminopurine (BAP) (50, 100, 150 ppm), and a standard control (water-soaked corms stratified at 4-7 °C for 3 months). The experiment was carried out under field conditions during the Rabi season to identify effective priming methods for enhancing growth and propagation. Results revealed that 1.0% potassium nitrate induced the earliest sprouting (13.83 days), while 1.5% potassium nitrate promoted the earliest spike emergence (69.00 days), earliest floret opening (74.23 days), and higher spike production per plant. The standard control produced the maximum sprouting percentage (91.67%) and superior vegetative growth, including plant height (105.20 cm), spike length (93.60 cm), rachis length, internodal length, leaf length (61.97 cm), and leaf width (2.91 cm). BAP at 150 ppm recorded the highest tiller number (3.87) and corms per plant (3.73). The standard control also produced longer spikes, more florets per spike, maximum florets open simultaneously, and longest vase life. Furthermore, 1.5% potassium nitrate gave maximum corm diameter (6.91 cm) and corm weight (84.52 g), while 2.5% thiourea produced the highest number of cormels (30.03) and cormel weight (26.38 g).