Screening of tulip (Tulipa gesneriana L.) germplasm for quality cut flower and bulb production

Abstract

A study was conducted to screen tulip genotypes for quality cut flower and bulb production under Kashmir agro-climatic conditions. Twenty tulip genotypes were evaluated. Highest scape length was recorded in Oxford Wonder (35.47 cm) which was at par with Blessing Lady (34.88 cm) and Apeldoorn Elite (33.24 cm). Wide variation was observed in flowering duration (15.25 to 27.24 days) in different genotypes and longest flowering duration was recorded in Purissima Yellow (27.24 days) followed by Apeldoorn Elite (25.20 days), American Dream (24.67 days), Blessing Lady (24.46 days) and Golden Oxford (23.66 days). Genotype Blessing Lady exhibited maximum vase-life 11.67 days, which was at par with Daydream (11.50 days) followed by Purissima Yellow (11.00 days), Golden Oxford (10.67 days) and American Dream (10.50 days). Blessing Lady (3.10), Purissima Yellow (2.80), American Dream (2.72) and Negrita Favorite (2.67) produced higher number of bulbs per plant as compared to lowest in Horizon (1.50). Propagation coefficient was found significantly high in Blessing Lady (354.11%) followed by Purissima White (314.13%), American Dream (308.47%), Apeldoorn Elite (303.12%), Purissima Yellow (297.61%) and Daydream (291.50%) as against lower propagation coefficient (< 200%) in Horizon, Hamilton, Character and Cassini. Based on overall performance several genotypes Blessing Lady, Daydream, Purissima Yellow, American Dream, Apeldoorn Elite and Golden Oxford were found promising in vegetative, floral and bulb production attributes and can be utilized commercially.