GLADIOLUS

Scientific name : Gladiolus grandiflorus

Family : Iridaceae
Subfamily Ixioideae
Origin : South Africa

Chromosome no (X) : 15
Most members of genus are
heteroploids

Common Name : Sword lily, Corn flag

 INTRODUCTION

•Pliny the Elder coined it from Latin word gladius meaning a

sword like on account of its sword like foliage

•Gladiolus is an important bulbous flower grown through out

the world.

•Also known as Queen of bulbous plants.

•Previously it was known by the name ‘iris’, which the ancient

Greek used to call ‘Xiphion’.
Common names

Sword lilly- due to sword shaped foliage

Corn flag –wide spread presence of G. illyricus as a weed in

the corn fields of Europe

Water fall- abundance of G. primulinus near Victoria fall in

Tropical

Introduced into cultivation towards the end of the sixteenth

century.
 IMPORTANCE AND USES

• Gladiolus is an important florist crop, most popular as cut

flower in the domestic and International market

•In Netherlands, it ranks next only to tulip in commercial

importance
• It is relatively easy to grow and also suitable for bedding
and exhibition

•The fascinating spikes bear a large number of florets which

exhibit varying sizes and forms with smooth, ruffled, deeply
crinkled or laciniated tepals.
 Flower spikes for
 Flower arrangements
 Bouquets
 Indoor decoration

• Grandiflorus and Primulinus types – for flower borders

• Spikes of gladiolus have good keeping quality and can be

transported to long distances

•Its flowers open in acropetal succession, one by one and

spike lasts for 1 to 3 weeks in ordinary vase water, depending
upon the season and variety

•Corms are very rich in vitamin C, carbohydrates and proteins

 PRINCIPLE AREAS OF COMMERCIAL
CULTIVATION IN INDIA
•Gladiolus is commercially cultivated in
Maharashtra
Karnataka
West Bengal
Punjab
Himachal Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Some places of N-East.
•Major Domestic Market -Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru

•Exported to Holland, Germany &Japan

• U.S.A is a major producer of gladiolus and exports 6.5

million gladiolus spikes to Mexico
 Morphology
• Gladiolus is a tender herbaceous
annual, growing from corms

•The corms are bulb-like, globose

or ovoid having series of nodes,
wholly covered with tunic or
husks and orient strictly in vertical
fashion within the soil

•The leaves are sword shaped

phyllode, clustering at the swollen
stem base, prominently ribbed,
radical and cauline.
Gladiolus spike
•Flowers 2-whorled with 6 perianth segments attached to a
funnel shaped cup shaping downwards into a bent floral tube

•Flowers are hermaphrodite, trimerous, sessile and often

protandrous, epigynous, borne to one side on a simple or
branched inflorescence subtended by 2 lanceolate leaf like
valves

•Stamens-3, placed opposite to the outer whorls of petals,

extrose, epiphyllous, inserted below throat, bithecous,
dehiscing by vertical slits, filaments distinct basifixed

•The corm is covered by 4-6 dry scales or husks which are

bases of the older leaves formed during previous growing
season.
•Gynoecium tricarpellary and
syncarpous, having inferior ovary
with axile placentation, style long
slender, simple with typically
hinge-like creased trifid stigma and
petaloid

•Fruits-loculicidal capsule with 3

chamber each having 2 rows
mostly with winged seeds.

•The point where scale is attached

to the corm is called node.

•Roots are called “filiform” roots

 Contd….
• At the base of the new corm, arise branched
protuberances called stolons the tips of which swell
and develop into small cormels.
 CLASSIFICATION
Based on plant height, floret size and arrangement of
florets on spike modern Gladiolus cultivars can be classified
into seven groups
1) Grandifloras or Large flowered hybrids

2) primulinus hybrids

3) Butterfly hybrids

4) Miniature hybrids

5) Face ups

6) Colvillei hybrids

7) Ochideola
1. Grandifloras or large flowered hybrids

Floret size : 10 - 20 cm
Large or exhibition type
Plants are vigorous

Plant height : >105 cm

Spike length :90-150 cm

Floret arrangement : closely and symmetrically

2. Primulinus hybrids

Stem height : 75 -105 cm

Floret size : 5 – 9 cm

Spike length : 40-45 cm

Arrangement: florets are hooded and dianty.

3. Butterfly hybrids

Stem height : 75-120 cm

Floret size :7.5-10 cm wide

Spike length : <45cm

Arrangement: symmetrically and closely on spike.

4. Miniature hybrids

Stem height : 75-105cm

Floret size : 2.5-5cm

Spike length: 40 cm
Many of these hybrids have ruffled tepals.
5. Face ups

Stem length : 60-90 cm

Floret size : 5-6 cm

Arrangement : face upward

6. Colvillei hybrids

G.tristis x G.cardinalis

Stem height : 60cm

Floret size : 5-6 cm

Arrangement: star shaped

florets
7.Ochideola
These are new group of gladiolus developed in
Israel.

Spikes are light in weight, producing smaller florets

or shorter stems.
 Important species of Gladiolus
There are about 120 species under Gladiolus genus and
important of these are
G. atroviolaceus
G. communis
G. cardinalis
G. floribundus
G. gandavensis
G. grandiflorus (All modern day cultivars
are designated in it)
 IARI, New Delhi •Shweta

•Agnirekha •Gulal •Pusa Kiran •Suchitra

•Anjali •Gunjan •Pusa Shubham •Sukanya

•Archana •Kamini •Pusa Suhagin •Sunayana

•Bindya •Mayur •Rangmahal •Swapnil

•Chandani •Neelam •Shabnam •Swarnima

•Chirag •Neelkanth •Sanjeevni •Urmil

•Dhanvantari •Noopur •Sarang •Vandana

New cultivars released in 2012 are Pusa Red Valentines,
Pusa Vidushi, and Pusa Manmohak.
New cultivars released in 2013 are Pusa unnati
and Pusa srijana.
•Arka Gold IIHR, Bangalore
•Meera

•Arka Amar •Nazrana

•Arka Naveen •Poonam

•Arka Kesar •Sagar

•Aarti •Sapna

•Apsara •Shakti

•Darshan •Sindhoor

•Dhiraj (Resistant to Fusarium) •Shobha (Mutant)

•Kum Kum
 Cultivars from iiHr

Arka amar Arka naveen Arka gold

 Arka Amar
• Florets pink with white blotch
• Yield: 30.24 spikes /m2 / crop season
• Use: Cut flower
• Important character: It is high yielding and has 8.5
days vase life
Arka Pratham
• It is developed through
hybridization and selection
from Junior prom x Arka
Poonum.
• It is having attractive violet
floret colour i.e., Purple Violet,
having Purple margin and
Green White line on lower lip,
upright spikes and early
flowering (58-65 days).
• This is suitable for cut flower
and bedding
Arka Naveen
• Florets are purple with
pale yellow blotch, wavy
tepals.
• Yield: 27.68 spikes /m2 /
crop season
• Use: Cut flower
• 9 days of vase life
 Arka Kum kum
• Length of the spike is 83 cm
with 15 florets. It has a vase
life of 9 Days.
• Florets are red with yellow
blotch.
• It is moderately resistant to
fusarium wilt disease.
 Arka Gold
• Florets are Yellow with red blotch
• Yield: 24.80 spikes /m2 / crop
season
• Use: Cut flower
• It comes to flowering 74 days
after planting
 Arka Ranjini
• It is developed through
hybridization and selection from
Arka Poonum x Gold Medal – 412.
• It is having attractive floret colour
i.e., Purple, Red – Purple margin
with Green-Yellow blotch, florets
arranged in double rows, short
spikes and early flowering (62-68
days).
• This is suitable for cut flower and
bedding purpose
 NBRI, Lucknow
•Archana •Kalima •Pitamber

•Arun •Manisha •Sada Bahar

•Basant Bahar •Manmohan •Sanyukta

•Gazel •Manohar •Sumita

•Hans •Menaka •Tabassum

•Indrani •Mohini •Tambari

• Jwala •Mridula •Trilok and

•Kajal •Mukta •Usha.

•Kohra •Priyadarshini

•Manhar •Rim Jhim

Horticultural Experiment and Training Centre,
Chaubattia, Almora

• Chaubattia Ankur

• Chaubattia Arunima

•Chaubattia Shobhit and

•Chaubattia Tripti.
Lt. Gov. Shri Bajrang Bahadur Singh Bhadari,
Himachal Pradesh
•Bhadri Blue Beauty •Bhadri's Shimla Sunset

•Bhadri Bright Red •Bhadri Tricolour

•Bhadri Fortune •Bhadri Yellow Beauty

•Bhadri Lemon Queen •May Blossom

•Bhadri Little White •Raj Niwas Pride

•Bhadri Pearl • Rose of Heaven and

•Bhadri Purple Queen •Zakir Hussain

•Bhadri's Rose Glory

 IHBT, Palampur

•Palampur Queen •Anurag

•Palampur Delight •Cute Munni

•Palampur Pride •Brick Beauty

•Palampur Princess •Grace and

•Tushar Mauli •Saint

 PAU, Ludhiana

•Punjab Flame

•Punjab Lemon Delight

•Punjab Elegance

•Punjab Glance

Punjab Gold-2
Some of the commercially important cultivars belonging to different
color groups

• Pink
• Green
• Cream
• Yellow
• Orange
• Red
• White
• Rose
• Brown
• Purple and violet
 Suitable cultivars in India

• Eurovision – bright red florets

• Snow princes – snowy white
• Rose supreme – Light pink color with dark pink lines
and creamish throat
• Jacksonville Gold – Light yellow
• Suchitra – Light pink with dark pink stripes
• Peter Pears – Mid season, orange red
• Mayur – Mid season, lilac purple florets with dark
purple throat
 Contd….

• White prosperity – Late season cultivar, white

• Pink friendship – rose coloured with yellow throat
• Jester – Deep yellow with red throat
• Subhangini – A mutant of Fidelio variety developed
through gamma radiation - white
• Oscar
• Priscilla
• Tropic Sea
• White Prosperity
• Priscilla
• Summer Sunshine
• Pusa Swarnima
• Jackson Ville Gold
• KKL.1
• Archana
• Basant Bahar
• Indrani
• Kalima, Kohra, Aarti, Arka Kesar, Darshan, Dhiraj, Agnirekha, Archana,
Bindiya, Shree Ganesh
 Breeding objectives
Important parameters for improvement
•Plant height
•Stem types such as slenderness and flexibility to high wind
•spike length
•Bud counts and compactness
•Flower size and shape
•Flower placement and facing
• Texture and frilling
• Side spikes
•Corm multiplication and
•Resistance to diseases and pests
 Soils
• All types of soils are suitable for growing gladiolus,
provided that the structure and drainage are good.

• Sandy loam soil is best suited for gladiolus cultivation.

• Water logging with high salinity areas are to avoided. Clay

soil is also not suitable for gladiolus cultivation.

• Adding sand to make it porous can amend light clay soil.

Soil pH of 6.0-7.0 is ideal.
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS EFFECTING
FLOWER PRODUCTION

• Temperature

• Light

• Relative humidity

chrysanthemum
CLIMATE
• It can be grown in all climates, however, cooler climate is
always preferable
1. Temperature
• Optimum growth of gladiolus occurs at 18-25 0C.

• High temperature during growth period i.e, from 20-30 0C

accelerate flowering up to 55 days
• Flowering is highly temperature dependent, if prolonged
low temperature from 2-5 0C at 2-7 leaf stage reduces
flowering and number of florets/spike
• At the time of planting, soil temperature should not be less
than 10 0C.
 Contd...
• Subtropical and temperate climatic conditions are
suitable.

• The crop performs well under a temperature range

of 27 - 30°C.

• It requires full exposure to sunlight and performs

well with long day conditions of 12 to 14 hour
photoperiod.
2. Light (Photoperiod)
• Gladiolus requires full exposure to sunlight, otherwise
blasting may occur.
• Long day treatments delay flowering but improves bloom
quality
• Long day condition of 12-14hrs of photoperiod increases

 number of florets
 spike length
 flowering percentage
3. Humidity

•High humidity and high temperature should be avoided

as it encourages the attraction of various pathogens.

• Optimum RH-60-70%
 Propagation

Different methods of propagation in gladiolus are

1. Seed propagation

2. Vegetative propagation

3. Micro propagation
Corms
 sEED ProPaGatioN

 Seed propagation is to evolve new cultivars.

 plants raised from seeds require four seasons to come to blooms

under normal condition.
 Seeds are ready for harvesting, 4-5 weeks of flowering.
 Under best culture treatments, it may reduced to two seasons.

Collection of seeds

 capsules are ready for dehiscence and collection when they start
turning brown, i.e., about four to six weeks after flowering.

 In India the time for collection of capsules is

August to October - Hills
January to March -Plains
Raising of Seedling
 The winged seeds extracted from the capsules are sown in
boxes or pots or directly on raised beds.

 The seeds sown during February- March in the hills and

November- December in the plains.

 The seed compost in boxes should contain

 3 parts loamy soil
 2 parts well decayed sterilized leafmould
 small amount of bone meal and sand.

 After sowing, the containers are kept in the green houses at

a temperature between 7 and 13 0C

 Seed germinated in 3 to 5 weeks.

 After seedling attain good growth (2-3 months), these are
shifted from greenhouse to a sheltered position at 24 0C to
grow for whole of the season.

 When the foliage starts withering, the cormels are lifted,

washed and stored in cool place.

 Stored cormels are planted 20cm apart in following season.

 vEGEtativE ProPaGatioN
Vegetative propagation is done by corms and cormels.

Corms
 A commercially used method

 Corm is a thickened underground perennating structure

consisting of a short vertical stem

 Corms having many ring like nodes full of buds, covered

with tunics all round, and disc-like root zone at the base.
Sowing of corms
Corms
 Corms develops at the base of the stem (Pseudostem)
when old stem is gradually used up.

 A single corm produces an average of 1 to 3 flower-

grade daughter corms in a season depending upon its
size and the variety.

 A single corm can produce10-50 cormels.

 This is a slow process and is also disease prone.

Selection of corms
 Healthy corms with higher crown with at least 2.5 cm diameter
is necessary for better plant health and spike production.

 The North American Gladiolus Council (NAGC) has

categorized the corms into 3 grades based on their size (corm
diameter)
CLASSIFICATION OF CORMS BASED ON THEIR SIZE BY NAGC

LARGE SIZED DIAMETER OF CORM

JUMBO >5.1 Cm
NO.1 5.1-3.8 cm
MEDIUM SIZED

NO.2 3.2-3.8 cm
NO.3 2.5-3.2 cm
SMALL SIZED
NO.4 1.9-2.5 cm
NO.5 1.3-1.9 cm
NO.6 1.0-1.3 cm
Cormels
 These are important sources for maximizing the multiplication.

 An inexpensive and rapid method which enables build up of

large stocks with minimum cost.

 Cormels, produced in clusters on stolons between mother and

daughter corms.

 Cormels from corms are

healthier planting material.

 The cormels also tend to

escape diseases of viruses
even if the parent corm is
infected.
 Cormels vary in sizes, each one enclosed in a hard shell
which is less permeable to water and thus prolongs the
dormancy.
 In certain cultivars, tunics on cormels are found cracked at
harvesting or during the process of curing.
 Cormels are planted closely 3-5 cm apart in rows or ridges
about 15-20 cm apart and 2.5 – 3.5 cm deep.
 Before planting, the cormels should be soaked in cold water
for at least 24 hrs. to facilitate uniform sprouting.
Diseased cormels float in water and hence discarded.
 Cormels between 1 cm and less than 2.5 cm diameter are
grown for production of flowering stalk.
Commercial propagation is through corms. Cold storage of
corms at 3 to 7°C for 3 months or treatment with Ethrel
(1000ppm) or GA3 (100ppm) or Thiourea (500 ppm) is
adopted for breaking corm dormancy.
 Methods to break dormancy of gladiolus corms

• Low temperature storage for 2-3 months at 4-7 0C

• Ethylene chlorohydrin (4 Ethylene chlorohydrin (4-5

drops/ litre container for a week)

• Dip corms in thiourea 500 ppm solution for 24 hours

• Dip corms in GA3 50 ppm solution for 30 min.

• Dip corms in BA 25-50 ppm solution or 10% H2S for 30

min.

• Dip corms in Garlic paste for 30 min.

 Micro-propagation
• Callusing may be induced by inflorescens, stems,
buds, perianth, and anthers of gladiolus.

• Best callus growth was obtained from segments of

flower stalk, cultured on basal MS medium with
NAA and kinetin.

• The axillary buds from spike axes are excised at

spike emergence stage, to be used as explant.
 land preparation

• Land should be ploughed 2 months before at a depth of 20-

30cm

• FYM or compost @ 5kg/sq.metre should be mixed during

first ploughing of land

• Weeds should be removed and phosphatic and potassic

fertilizers should be incorporated before Planting of corms
Preparation of beds mechanically
Beds for corm sowing
Field view for sowing corms
 Planting season
In North-Western plains
During first fort-night of October
Temperate regions
During months of March-April.
Planting season
October for plains and March-April for hills.
Spacing 30 x 20 cm is followed.

Depth of planting
• It varies with size of corm
• Medium corms at 7-10cm deep.
• Large size corms at 10-15cm deep.
 PLANTING DENSITY BASED ON CORM SIZE

CORM SIZE (CM) NO.OF CORMS PER M2

6-8 25-30

8-10 20-25

10-12 20-25

12-14 15-20

>14 15-20
 PLANTING SYSTEM
– Flat beds in plains
– Ridges in hills
Double row system of planting
• corms are treated with fungicide carbendazim 0.2% before planting.

• While planting lower portion of the corm should placed on the soil,
such that bud at top lies straight above.

• Planting is done on raised beds in double row system of planting.

• Bed size should be 6 x 2 m and having one main irrigation channel for
irrigation.
• In low laying areas and heavy soils raised bed cultivation is followed
to protect crop from water stagnation

• In double row system of planting distance between two rows is 40

cm.
Field view
Field view of gladiolus
 NUTRITION
 20 kg N, 150 kg P2O5 and 150 kg K2O per hectare is
recommended, of which 60 kg N and entire dose of P2O5 and
K2O is applied as basal dose. The remaining N is given in two
split doses, 30 and 60 days after planting.

Significantly influence the quality and length of flowers

spike, corm growth and cormel production

Nitrogen deficiency results in paling of foliage and

reduction in the number of florets.
The symptoms of phosphorus deficiency are dark green
foliage and purple coloration in the lower leaves.

Potassium deficiency results in shortening of spike,

reduction in the no. of florets, generally yellowing of
older leaves& yellowing between veins of young leaves.
 IRRIGATION
• It requires lot of water for its growth but does not grows
under water logged conditions.

Frequency of irrigation
• Sandy soils:7-10 days interval.
• Heavy soils: at less intervals.

• During frost situation, crop should be irrigated to avoid

freezing injury.

• Irrigation should be with held at least 4-6 weeks before

lifting of corms
 Cultural operations
1. WEED CONTROL
• Weeds compete with crop for nutrients,space, light and
water. Hence weeds should be removed.
Mechanical method
• By hand weeding or by hoeing.
Chemical method
• Use pre-emergence – alachlor and metachlor 4.5kg/ha,
simazine and atrazine 4 kg/ha and oxyfluorfen 0.5 kg/ha.
• Pendimethalin is applied @1.6 litre/ha immediately after
planting has reduced weed growth up to 75 days.
• Basalin 48 EC (fluchloralin) 750 ml/acre, two days
before planting of corms – 60 days weed free.
 MULCHING
• Mulching in between rows is beneficial to keep weed
control.

• Organic mulches like Straw, coconut fibre, hay etc…

• Organic mulches are cheap and best.

• Generally no mulching is followed in gladiolus.

 STAKING

• Large flowered varieties are susceptible to lodging,

hence need staking

• Stem is tied to thin strong support with strings.

• The plants are tied loosely to allow further growth

• Earthing up of the plants also prevents the lodging and

supports the plant.
 Growth regulators

Soaking of corms in 20 ppm BA for 25 hours breaks

dormancy and results in good shoot and root growth.

Treatments with GA3 at 10 to 100 ppm was found to be most

effective in increasing the vegetative growth, improving corm
size and weight, more cormels production

Treatment with IAA at 1000ppm results in markedly

improving in flowering and cormel formation

While application of CCC & ethrel, increased the floret size.

 Harvesting of Spikes

• Spikes are ready for harvest in 60-90 days after planting

and continue for about a month.
• For export, distant market – tight bud stage or when basal
1-2 floret shows colour.
• Local market – when basal floret is fully opened.
•The spikes of gladiolus generally exhibit vase life of about
7-15 days

• The spikes should be harvested in the morning or evening

hours when temperatures are mild

• Spikes should preferably be cut with sharp knives or

secateurs
•While harvesting, at least four basal leaves
should be retained on the plant to ensure
proper development of corms and cormels.

•The stage at which the spike is to be cut

should depend upon the transportation
distance, consumer requirement and
prevailing temperature conditions
FLOWERS
staGE of HarvEstiNG
• For distant markets at tight bud
stage when basal 1-2 florets show
colour.
• For local market: basal floret is
fully open.
CORMS
• After 6-8 weeks of harvesting of
spikes.
• Upper leafy portion is removed by
twisting and breaking the stalk.
• Lifting of corms is manually by
hand khurphas.
 Lifting of corms and cormels

•Corms and cormels become matured when retained leaves

on the plant starts yellowing

• The time gap between harvesting of spikes and corms-

varied from 6 to 8 weeks

• Harvesting of corms should be done at the right stage of

maturity for obtaining quality planting material

Premature harvesting - loss of viability of corms

Delayed harvesting - lengthy spikes and more number of

florets/spike
•Harvesting can be done manually using pick axe or spade. If
the soil is hard, a light irrigation is to be given to facilitate the
easy lifting of corms

•Care should be taken to prevent damage to corms at the time

of lifting and dressing and damaged corms must be treated
with fungicides to avoid the fungal infection

•Immediately after lifting, separate old mother corm and

cormels from new corm

•A delay in separation of old mother corms makes it difficult

as they become dry and hard and finally injure the new corms
• Adhered soil and leafy portion of new corms should also
be removed

•Infected corms and cormels can be discarded at the time

of dressing

• Handle the varieties separately to maintain the identity.

Keep dressed corms and cormels under shade for drying in
free ventilated place for a month for proper curing

• Then store them keeping in trays or net type bags under

aerated conditions
•Do not store them under air tight conditions as there is a
risk of rotting of corms

• There should be a provision for free passage of air

through storage structures to avoid the fungal infection
and keep them healthy
 Corm storage
• 4-5 0C is ideal for 3-4 months – ABA – cold storage
break dormancy
• Purpose: 1. It helps to break dormancy of corms
raised under warmer climates
• 2. It helps to overcome warm and dry conditions of
summer months that intervene between lifting of
corms and their planting in the subsequent season
• 3. It prevents premature sprouting of corms.
• Perforated wooden boxes, bamboo baskets, nylon
mesh bags
• Break dormancy: GA3, thiourea 500 mg/l 24 hrs.
 YIELD

Approximately yield of flower spike would be around

2,00,000-3,00,000/ha.

Yield depends up on the planting density, cultivar, corm size,

and management practices.
 Post harvest handling and storage
•After cutting, carry spikes carefully with all the florets
facing up ward.
•Place the bunched spikes in deep water or preservatives
and hold them up right because the stem will bend up ward
if placed in a horizontal position
•Store the cut flowers at 5 0C for 10 to 15 days
•Addition of storage preservatives in holding solution
before, during and after storage can considerably extend
vase life
•Spikes are sorted into different grades based on over all
quality, spike length and floret number
•After grading, they are bunched and kept in a cool place
preferably at 4 0C to 5 0C until packed
•Regarding corms, place them in slatted or screened
shallow trays (about 10 cm deep) after they dug.
 Post HarvEst CarE
Pre-treatments
Rehydration or conditioning of spikes
• During transport, spikes loose water and show symptoms
of wilting.
• If so these should be immediately kept in warm water.

Floral preservatives
• These are used to extend vase life of flowers
• It usually comprises of sugar and a biocide. Sugar keeps
flower turgid and biocide checks the microbial growth
• Commonly used sugar is sucrose
• Commonly used biocide is 8-HQC (Hydroxy quinoline
citrate)
 Vase life
•Vase life of gladiolus is affected by many factors like
cultivar, cultural practices, stage of harvest, vase
solution

•Field application of KNO3 at 12 g/sq.mt gave the

longest period of prime quality of flowers &
application of K2So4 at low & KNO3 & K2SO4 at
intermediate rates gave the greatest number of
flower openings at one time

•Vase life of gladiolus can be increased by placing

spikes in solution containing 3.5% sucrose and 200
ppm 8HQS solution.
 storaGE
• Storage of spikes
Under wet conditions
• Due to long transport distance spikes are kept in bucket
containing water or holding solution and placed in cold
chamber.
Under dry conditions
• Spikes are sealed in polythene sleeves and then stored in
cold rooms.
• Polypropylene sleeves are also used instead of polythene
which shows better opening.
• During storage spike should be kept in a vertical position
instead it shows upward bending called `geotropic
bending`
CARE OF SPIKES IN VASE
• The spikes can be pulsed with 20% sucrose + 8HQC or
aluminium sulphate for improving vase life.

• Use of metallic vase should avoided as floral preservatives

may react with the metal.

• Vase water should be changed daily, faded florets should be

removed.
 storaGE of Corms
Storage of corms
• Storage of corms at low temp at 4-5 0C is commercial
practice

• It serves 3 purposes
1. It helps to break dormancy of corms raised under warmer
climate.
2. It helps overcome warm and dry conditions of summer
months that intervene between lifting of corms and
subsequent planting season.
3. It prevents premature sprouting of corms

• Fluctuations in storage temperature between <2 0C and

>10 0C causes premature sprouting.
 Grading
Grading is done based on spike length and floret no. (Society
of American Florists)

Grade Spike length Number of florets

Fancy >107 16

Special 96 to 107 14

Standard 81 to 96 12

Utility < 81 10
 Contd...
• Maturity indication: When basal floret shows its
petal colour.
• Chemical for conditioning: Sucrose (100g/l) + STS
(0.4 millimolar) at 20 0C for 24 hours
• Pre-cooling temperature: 4-5 0C
• Pulsing: Sucrose (20%) for 16 hours
• Chemical for bud opening:
8-HQC 200 ppm + Sucrose 30 g/l + Citric acid 30 g/l
Sucrose 5% + AgNO3 50 ppm + HQC 300 ppm +
Acidifier
Sucrose (4%) + Al2 (SO4)3 200 ppm
 BuNCHiNG aND PaCkiNG

• Graded spikes are made into bunches of 10-12 and loosely

tied with rubber band

• PACKING
• Empty tube light boxes are used for packaging (127 x 22 x
22 cm).

• Each such box can accommodate 250 to 300 cut spikes.

 Physiological disorders

1. Geotropic bending of spikes

2. Tip burn

3. Blindness

4. Topple
 Geotropic bending of spikes
Symptoms
The tips of gladiolus spikes
have the tendency bend down
against the gravity if they are
placed horizontally in transport.

In some varieties, bent portion

hangs down which in turn
affects the vase life by
restricting an upward movement
of water.

This is a common post harvest

problem in gladiolus and some Spike with curvature Spike with
times it reduces marketable and bending out bending
value considerably.
Causes
 Bending happens due to lateral downward movement of
auxin (IAA) and its accumulation on the lower portion of the
spike.

 IAA causes asymmetrical elongation of cells in the region

and thereby causing the upward bending of spike tips.

The point of bending in spike varied from variety to variety

and it is not uniform even within a variety.

Control
Pinching of top most 3 or 4 buds and keeping of spikes in
vertical position during transport and storage container can
prevent the spike bending.
2. Tip burn
Symptoms
 Discoloration and drying of leaf tips occurs.

Cause
High levels of aerial flourides in the atmosphere is a
major cause

Control
Spray Blitox 50WP (0.3%) at the initiation of
symptom
3. Blindness
Symptoms
 It results in complete absence of spikes

Cause
 Zinc deficiency

Control
 Application of zinc at 20-100 ppm
4. Topple
Symptoms
 The collapse of small portion of the internode just
beneath the flower occurs and it is called sugar stem or
wet stem or topple.

Cause
 Calcium deficiency

Control
 Application of calcium nitrate
 Pests and Diseases
1. Aphids (Aphis gossypi, Aphis craccivora)
Symptoms
Aphids suck the sap from tender parts of the plant and the
infected plants become weak and get deformed.

They excrete honey dew which attracts sooty mould and ants.
Incidence of aphids is commonly seen during February and
March.

Control
It can be controlled by spraying of Malathion 0.1% at
fortnightly interval.
2. Thrips (Taeniothrips simplex)
Symptoms

This is a major pest in gladiolus and

causes serious damage to the crop.

 Affected leaves and spikes develop

silver coloured streaks which later turn
brown, get deformed and dry if the
damage is severe.

It also attacks corms in storage and

infected corms become sticky, shrivel
and produce weak plants when planted.
Control
 Spray Dimethoate 30 EC @ 2ml/l or
Malathion 50 EC @ 2ml/l
3. Cut worms (Agrostis segetum)
Symptoms
Incidence of cut worms is normally observed in the first month
of crop.
 Larvae feed on emerging shoots and cut the plants at the
ground level during night.
 Some times they damage underground corms and developing
spikes.

Control
Spraying of Methyl Parathion 0.05% or Quinolphos 0.05% at
fortnight interval provides protection.
4. Leaf eating caterpillar (Spodoptera litura)
Symptoms
Skelitenization of leaves is the main symptom.

Control
 Spraying of Quinolphos 0.05% or Chlorpyriphos 0.05% or
Carboryl 0.1 % at 10 days interval controls the incidence
effectively.

Neem oil 1% or neem kernel extract 4% checks damage

caused by early instar larvae.
5. Mealy bug
Symptoms
 Both nymphs and adults attack corms by sucking sap causing
shriveling and drying of affected corms in severe cases.

 Incidence of mealy bugs starts in the field during dry

conditions and then it is carried to the storage.

Movement of ants on plants is the sign of mealybug

infestation.

Control
Methyl Parathion 0.04% or Dimethoate 0.04% or Acephate
0.1 % at fortnight interval can be applied to effectively control
mealy bug.
 Diseases
1. Fusarium Wilt (Fusarium oxysporium f.sp.gladioli)
Symptoms
 Wilt is a major fungal disease in gladiolus.

 It is soil borne and spread through corms from season to

season.

 High temperature, high level of nitrogen anaerobic condition

and accumulation of carbon dioxide favour the fungus.

 Yellowing of older leaves, browning of vascular tissue and

wilting of whole plant are the symptoms of the disease.

 Roots cannot absorb nutrients and water due to damage of

vascular tissues.
Control
 Soil solarization is reported to give good results but it is
laborious and not practical in large areas.

 The best way to control the wilt is to plant healthy corms

and follow crop rotation.

 Farmers should avoid the use of infected/sick soils for

cultivation.

 Treat corms in hot water (38-400C) containing 2.5g each of

Benlate and Captan for 30 minutes for effective
management of wilt.
2. Corm rot
Corm rot is a common problem caused
by group of fungi namely Fusarium,
Curvularia, Stromatinia and
Penicillium sps.
Symptoms
It causes heavy loss particularly
during storage.

Anaerobic conditions, storage in air

tight rooms and more humidity favour
the infection.

Black, brown, greenish or yellowish

mouldy growth on corms is seen during
the storage.
Under poor air circulation the corms may rot and emit foul
smell.

Control
Hot water treatment (38- 40°C) containing 2.5g each of
Benlate and Captan for 30 minutes has been quite effective.

Damage to corms at the time of lifting, improper curing and

dampness in storage should be avoided.
Curvularia blight
It is caused by many fungi but the most important are
Curvularia trifolii and Curvularia ergrostidis.

Symptoms
The patches turn to Yellowing of older leaves, browning of
brown and finally black.
 Moist and warm vascular tissue and wilting of whole plant
conditions spread the blight very fast.

Control
Spray Mancozeb 0.2% at 10 days interval.