Author(s):

Anupam Tiwari and Anil K Singh

Abstract: A field experiment was carried out to see the effect of gamma irradiation on vegetative and propagule parameters in gladiolus varieties during winters of 2015-16 and 2016-17. Uniform and healthy corms of sixteen gladiolus varieties (African Star, American Beauty, Dhanvantari, Green Star, Gulal, Lemon Beauty, Mohini, Nova Lux, Priscilla, Punjab Dawn, Punjab Morning, Red Beauty, Shubhangini, Snow Princess, Tiger Flame and Yellow Stone) were irradiated with different doses (0, 25, 35, 45, 55 and 65 Gy) of gamma rays from ⁶⁰Co source and planted under open field condition in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with factorial concept. Each treatment was replicated thrice. Plants treated with higher doses (35 Gy and 65 Gy) showed deleterious effect of gamma irradiation although at lowest dose (25 Gy) plants were not affected much. In M₁ generation, minimum days to sprouting was taken by variety Yellow Stone (11.72 days), whereas Punjab Morning (11.11 days) in M₂ generation. Plant height was reduced after irradiation as compare to untreated plants and was recorded minimum at highest doses. However, maximum leaf area index was found in variety Lemon Beauty at 25 Gy (0.188 in M₁ and 0.183 in M₂) during both generations. Cultivar American Beauty had maximum number of corms per hill (1.81) and corm weight per hill (85.40 g) in M₁ generation. Number of cormels per plant was also reduced with the increase in gamma rays dose. During M₁, maximum number of cormels per hill was seen in variety Tiger Flame (17.69) which was statistically at par with Snow Princess (17.42), whereas variety Snow Princess (31.54) recorded maximum number of cormels per hill during M₂ generation.

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