Suitability evaluation of crossandra genotypes under Hyderabad conditions

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out at Floricultural Research Station, SKLTSHU under AICRP scheme for testing of new genotypes of crossandra for three consecutive years. The experiment was carried out from 2014-2017 laid out in RBD with five genotypes as treatments viz., Arka Shravya, Arka Ambara, Arka Kanaka, Arka Shreeya and local cultivar as check and replicated four times. The results revealed that among the genotypes maximum plant height (95.84 cm), plant spread (126.60 sq.cm), number of branches per plant (9.34) was recorded in Arka Shravya and minimum was recorded by Arka Kanaka. Similarly Arka Shravya recorded longest spike length (20.84 cm), rachis length (10.04 cm), number of flowers per spike (17.34) and number of pickings per month (18.34). However, flower length (4.24 cm) and 100 flowers weight (7.67 g) was recorded maximum in Arka Shreeya and maximum flower diameter was recorded in Arka Ambara. Based on RHS colour chart Arka Ambara, Arka Shreeya and Local cultivar comes under orange group, Arka Kanaka is a Yellow orange group one and Arka Shravya comes under red group category. It can be concluded that Arka Shreeya and Arka Ambara can be replaced with local variety for loose flower cultivation and Arka Shravya as both loose flower and garden display and Arka Kanaka for garden display and landscaping.