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PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY OF GLADIOLOUS '''INTRODUCTION: Botanical Name: Gladiolus tristis Family             : Iridaceae The name gladiolus was originated from the Latin word gladius, meaning a sword, on account of the sword-like shape of the foliage. The common name of gladiolus is ‘sword lily’ because of its sword- shaped foliage. Gladiolus is popularly known as green of bulbous ornamental plants and is native to Mediterranean region & tropical South Asia. Gladiolus are grown in all parts of the world. In temperate countries the most important period is summer, in tropical and subtropical climate, it is grown in winter and spring.

IMPORTANCE AND USES OF GLADIOLUS •	Gladiolus is one of the important Bulbous plants which is valued as the gardens for its beautiful flower spikes. •	Flowers with brilliant colours, attractive shapes, varying sizes, excellent keeping quality. •	The gladiolus is ideal both for garden and floral decoration. •	The florlets open in sequence over a longer duration and hence has a good keeping quality of cut spike. •	It is ideal as a cut flower, very good for beds, herbaceous border, for making bouquets and does well in pots. •	Among the different bulbous plants, the gladiolus top the list in its beauty, glamour keeping quality, various colours and shades, shapes, hence it is called as "Queen of Bulb".

CLASSIFICATION OF GLADIOLOUS: A total 23 species have so far been used in the development of modern gladiolus cultivers. Grandiflorus or large flower hybrids: These are large or exhibition type gladioli. The plants are vigorous bearing long spikes with large flowers. Florets are 10-20 cm wide, arranged closely and symmetrically on 90-150 cm spikes. Primulinus hybrids: They are also vigorous. The stem grow upto a height of 70-105 cm, flowers 5-10 cm across and are well spaced on 40-45 cm long spikes. The upper most inner petals are attractive, anthers& stigma appear above the petals. Butterfly hybrids: The plants grow to a height of 75-120 cm. Spikes are shorter than 45 cm. The florets are 7.5 -10 cm across. Having some markings or blotches on the petals. Florets are arranged symmetrically & closely of the spikes. Miniature hybrids: These hybrids are of relatively recent origin. The plant height varies from 75-105 cm. The florets are 2.5-5 cm across born on about 40 cm spike. Many of these hybrids have raffled sepals, they produce very small corms and multiply very slowly. Face up: The stem is dwarf, usually 60-90 cm tall. Florets are nearly 5-6 cm wide and face upward. Colvillei Hybrids: The plant grow hardly more than 60 cm tall. Flowers are 5-7 cm across and star shape. These are early flowering hybrids and are more suitable for growing under Greenhouse. Orchideala hybrids: The new growth of gladiolus is dup in Israel. Spikes are light in weight with smaller florets on shorter stem. Double gladiolus: Normal gladiolus florets consists of 6 tepals. Any gladiolus > 6 tepals are known as double gladiolus. Dragons: These group has long twisted tepals with attractive colours. Fragrant : Some South African sp. Of gladiolushave fragrance and the quality of fragrance varies from apple blossom to rose smell.The first scented gladiolus variety was named as lucky star.

VARIETIES OF GLADIOLUS Gladiolus varieties are grouped under two groups : A) Big flowered varieties — preferred for cut flowers  and B)  Small flowered varieties

A) Big Flowered Varieties:

1) George mazne                   2) Patrica 3) Ratna butterfly                  4) Snow princess 5) Apple bloossom                 6) Black jack 7) Cherry blossom                  8) Friendship 9) Happy end                        10) Melody 11) Royal tublee                    12) Agni - Rekha 13) Suchitra                         14) Mayur 15) Nazrana                          16) Apsara 17) Sapna                             18) Arti 19) Poonam                           20) Shobha

B) Small Flowered Varieties: 1) Butterfly                            2) Canberra 3) Royal jubilee                       4) Red canna

SOIL AND CLIMATE: Weil drained fertile loamy soil is preferred for Gladiolus cultivation. Water logged, heavy sticky soil will result in decaying of corms as well as delay in growth of plants. For successful cultivation of this crop, mid climate is ideal while very hot and too cold atmospheric conditions are harmful. The day temperature should range between 15 ⁰ and 20 ⁰ C. Temperature falling below 6 ⁰C may cause frost injury to the plant. At the time of planting, the soil temperature should not be less than 10 ⁰C.

PROPAGATION: Gladiolus is propagated by corms of at least 4-5 cm diameter. It should be healthy and disease free. Conical shaped corms preferred over flat one as it gives better flowers. Commercially gladiolus is vegetatively propagated through corm and cormels. For cutflower production gladiolus is propagated by corms however for generation of the planting materials it is propagated by cormels. Gladiolus is propagated by corms of at least 4-5 cm diameter. It should be healthy and disease free. Conical shaped corms preferred over flat one as it gives better flowers. Gladiolus Corm Gladiolus Cormels

PLANTING: Gladiolus corms which are healthy, disease free with diameter of 4 to 5 cm are selected and planted at the spacing of 20 x 20 cm or 20 x 30 cm on ridges and furrows during September. Shallow planting of conns i.e. at the depth of 5 to 10 cm is essential. Deep planting will result into poor production of cormels and also cause decaying of corms i.e. Size of corm:4.5 cm diameter of corms Spacing: 20 x 30 cm Planting time: September Shallow planting: 5-10 cm depth

SEED RATE: A corm weighing 20-30 gm is usually preferred for plantation thus 1 kg = 50 corms - 1,60,000 corms per ha or 3200 kg per ha.

NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: FYM is mixed thoroughly in the soil while preparing in the field for planting corms OR 20 tonnes of FYM 100 kg N + 50 kg P2Oj * 50 kg K20 applied for one ha. FYM - P205 + K20 is added at the time of preparation of field while nitrogen is given in 2 splits doses i.e. first dose at 4-6 leaf stage and second at earthing up stage i.e. 6-8 weeks after planting.

IRRIGATION: A gladiolus crop must not be allowed to suffer from water stress especially when spiles are emerging. Regular irrigation at the intervals of 7 to 10 days depending upon weather is necessary. Over watering should be avoided.

CULTURAL PRACTICES: Mulching: Mulching is important for conserving the moisture and reducing the weed populations. Its effectiveness is depends on the type of materials and thickness of mulch used. Mulching is done between and across the rows. Care should be taken to mulch the beds only when there is sufficient moisture, otherwise it will not serve any purpose. Fresh manure, chopped straw, dried grass, clippings, saw dust, peat, husk, bark and strips of black polythene may effectively be used as mulching materials. Earthing up: Usually gladiolus corm need 12-15 days for sprouting. Initial few days the corm should not be disturbed except the removal of the initial weeds. Once the plant attain to a height of about 15-20 cm a light earthing up should be provided from both side of the row. At this stage if the weather is dry amount of water to be applied. Occasionally the weeds should be removed and the soil should be loosened with the help of a fork. When the plant will be a 5-6 leaf stage the second earthing up should be done. Staking: At 5-6 leaf stage, the plant should be stake with the help of a bamboo stick. During staking care should be taken to avoid any damage to the underground corm and cormels. Curing of Spike (Harvesting): Early flowering varieties starts flowering within 80 - 90 days, while late varieties starts flowering within 100-145 days after planting. That means September planted corms will start flowering during November - December (January). The flower spike should be cut as close to the base as possible with sharp knife or scissor leaving 4 to 6 leaves on plant after the first floret on the spike has opened. Later on the other flower buds i.e. florets on the same spike will open in sequence slowly starting from below and continuing upward when placed in water. For internal market, they are cut when 1-2 lower most florets on the spike have opened and for external market when the colour has fully developed in mature unopened buds. Immediately after cutting, the spike should be immersed (upto 15 cm from base) in a bucket containing water. Vase life of cut flowers can be extended if cut flowers are kept in 300 to 600 ppm solution of 8 - HQC (Hydroxy Quinolin Citrate) + 4 % Sucrose

PACKAGING OF FLOWERS: Cut flowers should be packed in a card board boxes made for this purpose. Generally card board boxes measuring 110 cm x 250 cm x 10 cm are used.

HARVESTING AND STORAGE OF CORMS: After harvesting of flowers or spike the plants with leaves are allowed to remain in the soil and irrigation is withheld (stopped). After drying of leaves (i.e. 3-4 weeks) the corms and com lets are-takenout. The corms such dig out are allowed to dry in a open and airy situation for a week. Then after cutting its leaves they are treated with 0.2 % Bavistin for 30 minutes and stored in cold storage or Airy room.

YIELD: 2-3 lakh spikes per ha, 20,000 kg corms per ha.

PESTS AND DISEASES:''' 1.Fusarium rot and yellow: Commonly known as ‘vascular disease’, ‘dry rot’ or ‘core rot’ is caused by Fusarium spp. Roots may show discrete brown lesions or a general rotting, leaf infection is basal and associated with corm rot. Leaf yellowing starting with oldest leaves. Control Measures:Treat the corms by dipping in carbendazim (1 g/L water) or captan (2 g/L water) for 60minutes after harvesting and before storage. Use disease free corm stock 2. Grey mould (Botrytis chinerea) : On leaves, large oval to round, brown spots appear. spots occur on flowers and stems also. At first the spots are pale brown and then become dark. A soft, brown rotting at the base of florets may develop after rainfall. In a moist, cool atmosphere, the whole flower becomes covered with brownish grey growth of the fungal spores. Control Measures: Remove old flowers spikes and destroy. Hot water treatment (52 ⁰C)of corms with carbendazim (1 g/L water) added to the water is effective in eradicating the pathogen from planting stock.

PEST: 1. Thrips : Thrips are small insects and are normally not visible naked eye. They feed on leaves, spikes and the florets. Silver and brown stick are noticed on the affected leaves. This insect can be controlled with malathion 0.1% spray. 2.Aphids: Aphid suck the sap from tender leaves and emerging spikes as well as florets. This can be controlled by spraying with monocrotophos at 0.05% can effectively controlled. 3. Mites : Mites also present in soil and attack the corms. They occur in hot season and damage leaves and buds which gave a pale appearance. Mites can be controlled by application of kathane 0.5%. 4. Caterpillars and various cut worms: These ocassionally feed on foliage at spikes. Manual collection & destruction in early stages can check the infestation