Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2018) 7(8): 4508-4514 4508 Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2018.708.477 Studies on Component Characters Association with Flower Yield in Chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelve) Mallikarjun Hebbal 1* , Mukund Shiragur 1 , B.C. Patil 1 , G.K. Seetharamu 1 , Sandhyarani Nishani 2 and Mahantesha B.N. Naika 2 1 Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka, India 2 Department of Crop Improvement and Biotechnology, KRCCH, Arabhavi-591218, University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka, India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT Introduction Flowers and flowering plants are fascinating part of our life. Among them, chrysanthemum (chryos - golden; anthos - flower) called as “Queen of the East” is a most interesting and popular flower crop of commercial importance. It ranks third in the International cut flower trade next to rose and carnation in demand and popularity. Chrysanthemum is native to China, belonging to the family Asteraceae which is the most phylogenetically advanced dicotyledonous family. The inflorescence is called as capitulum or head consisting of large number of tiny florets closely mounted on a flattened stem end, which gives a false appearance of single bloom. Garden chrysanthemum which was previously known as Chrysanthemum morifolium (Ramat) and now it is called as Ten genotypes of chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelve) were assessed for 12 different growth, flowering, flower yield and quality traits to study the association of different parameters with flower yield per plant (g). In the present study, days to flower bud initiation and number of flowers showed highly significant and positive association with flower yield per plant (g) at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. Number of flowers was found have highly significant negative correlation with flower diameter (cm) and individual flower weight (g) at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. However, the number of flowers showed highly significant positive correlation with flower yield per plant (g) at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. Shelf life (h) showed significant positive correlation with flower yield per plant (g) at genotypic level only indicating that, growing environment influence on flower shelf life is negligible. Hence, selection for the traits that are positively associated would be effective for flower yield improvement in chrysanthemum. Thus in chrysanthemum the genotype, which flower comparatively late with more number of flowers (lesser flower diameter and lesser flower weight) and having good shelf life of flower would increase the flower yield. Keywords Correlation coefficient, Flower yield per plant, Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelve Accepted: 26 July 2018 Available Online: 10 August 2018 Article Info International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 7 Number 08 (2018) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com