Abstract

                                A study was carried out on the growth performance of 9 cultivars of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Bolus ex. Hooker F.), at G.K.V.K. Bangalore, during 2011-12. Among the nine cultivars studied, there was a significant variation observed for growth, cut flower yield and quality parameters under polyhouse (NVPH) and shade house conditions. The results revealed that, plant height, number of leaves and plant spread (N/S and E/W) were highest under polyhouse condition compared to shadehouse. Among the varieties, cv. Kyillian recorded the highest plant height (40.1 cm), cv. Sonata recorded maximum number of leaves (23.5) and cv. Julia recorded the highest plant spread on both north to south and east to west side (70.0 and 66.9 cm). Flowering characters such as flower bud appearance, bud opening, 50 per cent flowering and days taken to first harvest were found to be significant. Flowering occurred early under polyhouse compared to shadehouse. Among the varieties, cv. Kyillian took less number of days for flower bud appearance and bud opening (44.5 and 10.4 days respectively). The cv. Dameblanche took less number of days (105.3 and 88 days) to 50 per cent flowering and first harvest. Flower quality parameters such as stalk length, stem diameter, flower diameter and number of ray florets were found to be significant. The highest flower quality parameters were recorded under polyhouse compared to shadehouse. The cv. Julia recorded maximum stalk length and stem diameter (67.9 and 0.83 cm respectively). Maximum flower diameter was recorded in cv. Kyillian (10.6 cm). Cultivar Arianna the recorded maximum number of ray florets (9.16). Significant differences were found among the yield parameters such as flowers per plant, total yield per plant and flowers per meter square. The highest yield parameters were recorded under polyhouse as compared to shadehouse. Among the treatments, cv. Sonata recorded the maximum number of flowers per plant; and flowers per meter square (4.4, 8.8 and 98.2, respectively).

Key words : Gerbera, Polyhouse (NVPH), Shadehouse, Cultivars and interaction