Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2018) 7(7): 3627-3669 3728 Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2018.707.431 Varietal Evaluation of Gladiolus for Flowering Attributes Under Indo-Gangetic Plains Anil K. Singh, Dhananjay Kumar*, Anjana Sisodia and Minakshi Padhi Department of Horticulture, Institute of Agricultural Sciences Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, U.P., India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT Introduction Gladiolus is an important commercial flower and is very popular as cut flower both in domestic and international market (Singh and Sisodia, 2017) and it is one of the most popular bulbous flower which belongs to family Iridaceae and subfamily Ixioideae. There are about 260 species and over 30,000 varieties of gladiolus (Singh, 2014). Especially for gladiolus crop in which every year a great number of new varieties are introduced, it is difficult for the user to obtain enough information to judge the value of these varieties. In that case, varietal evaluation of new cultivars and existing cultivar is necessary to determine the value of these cultivars and to distribute this information. This will also contribute in making good varieties better known, while on the other hand varieties with little prospect are sooner identified which makes it possible to stop unnecessarily loss of capital by investing in these varieties. Flowering characters of spike International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 7 Number 07 (2018) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the gladiolus varieties for various flowering traits at Horticulture Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi during 2017-18. The experiment was conducted in Randomized Block Design comprised of 31 varieties of gladiolus and replicated three times. The mean performance of gladiolus varieties was significant for all the flowering characters studied. The data concluded that cultivar Priscilla was earlier in spike emergence, days to opening 1 st , 3 rd and 5 th florets. Cultivar Jyotsana resulted in early colour show, whereas, cv. FlevoLeguna was found late. Cultivar Shabanam produced larger length of spike and length of rachis, whereas cv. Darshan was shortest for length of spike. Maximum number of open floret at a time was observed in the cultivar Nova Lux and minimum in cv. Punjab Morning. Highest longevity of 1 st floret was observed in cultivar Pink Friendship, whereas 3 rd and 5 th with cv. Trader Horn. Maximum diameter of 1 st , 3 rd and 5 th floret was recorded with cultivar Pink Friendship and minimum in cv. Flevo Leguna. Cultivar Shubhangini exhibited maximum for longevity of spike which was statistically at par with cultivars Tiger Flame and Pink Friendship. Keywords Gladiolus, Cultivars, Flowering Accepted: 26 June 2018 Available Online: 10 July 2018 Article Info