Effect of tuber size on growth, flowering and yield of glory lily (Gloriosa superba L.)

Commercial cultivation of glory lily (Gloriosa superba L.) is on the increase due to its medicinal importance. Tubers are being used as propagating material in which wide variation is observed in their weight and size. An investigation was undertaken to standardize the economic size of tubers for propagation that would result in enhanced growth and yield. The results revealed that sprouting percentage, plant height and number of branches showed significant difference due to varied tuber weights. Among the treatments, tuber size of 51-70 g recorded higher values for the above morphological traits. The days to first flowering, number of flowers and fruit set percentage were also significantly favoured by the tuber weight of 51-70 g, whereas the tuber weight of less than 30 g recorded the least expression of the above characters. The plants raised from 5 1 70 g tubers recorded highest seed yield with favourable pod characters. This was followed by 31-50 g tuber weight as against the least yield in plants raised from tubers weighing less than 30 g. The study has clearly brought out the superiority of tubers weighing of 51-70 g as ideal planting material in glory lily.