Exogenous gibberellic acid application influences on vegetative and reproductive aspects in gladiolus

Ornamental plants like gladiolus are suitable option for growers with lower amount of land, as they are highly economic and have lower cost of production. An experiment was conducted with aim to study the exogenous application influence of gibberellic acid on vegetative and reproductive characteristics of gladiolus was conducted under the subtropical conditions. The experiment was laid out in two factors randomized complete block design and replicated three times. Gibberellic acid (GA(3)) was used in different concentrations (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 mg L-1) to corms of two cultivars of gladiolus ('White Prosperity' and 'Red Advance'). Results showed that most of the parameters were significantly influenced by gibberellic acid at 200 mg L-1. The maximum sprouting, number of leaves plant(-1), daughter corms per plant, less number of days to corm sprouting, days to spike emergence and flower opening were recorded in plants treated with 200 mg L-1 gibberellic acid (GA(3)). 'Red Advance' produced more number of leaves plant(-1), corm diameter, corm weight, and less number of days to spike emergence and flower opening. It can be concluded from the present findings that the treatment of corms with 200 mg L-1 gibberellic acid can improve the growth and yield of cultivar Red Advance than White prosperity under the subtropical conditions.