Performance of gerbera varieties under naturally ventilated polyhouse

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to evaluate ten varieties of gerbera under polyhouse conditions in Hyderabad. Vegetative, flowering and flower characters varied significantly among the cultivars and variations in different growth parameters were prominent. Mean performance of the cultivars revealed that cv. Helix recorded maximum plant height, flower diameter, flower stalk diameter and ray florets. The same cultivar Helix also produced maximum number of suckers per plant, number of flowers per plant, Fresh weight of flower, dry weight of flower and possessed longest field life which was at par with cv. Goliath. The cv. Goliath found superior with respect to maximum chlorophyll content, minimum days required for commence of first-flower and days taken for 50% flowering.Maximum disc diameter and number of leaves were produced by cv. balance. While cv. Savannah had significantly maximum leaf area and length of the flower stalk. However, the cv. ‘Montenegro recorded least mean value in terms of plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf length, leaf breadth, leaf area, number of suckers, chlorophyll content, flower diameter, flower stalk diameter, ray florets, disc diameter, number of flowers per plant and took maximum days for first flower opening, 50 % flowering and which was late in inducing flowering had lesser duration of flowering. Cultivar Helix exerted best performance on various growth and flower characters along with the cultivars Goliath, Danaellen, Balance and Savannah.