MSc

The present investigation on “Performance analysis of tissue culture plantlets of Gerbera jamesonii Bolus. as influenced by microbial inoculants” was carried out in the Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2014-2016. The objective was to study the establishment of tissue culture plantlets of gerbera variety Esmara as influenced by microbial inoculants and to analyse the performance of gerbera treated with different microbial inoculants under rain shelter. The treatment consisted of AMF, Pseudomonas fluorescence, PGPR MIX - I and PGPR MIX – II applied in two sets: first at planting , first at planting + second application 3 weeks after planting. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design consisting of nine treatments and four replications.
All the treatments showed 100 per cent survival after two weeks and four weeks of planting. Considering the vegetative parameters, the highest value for plant spread (186.61 cm) and leaf length (29.72 cm) was recorded in T4 (application of PGPR MIX- II at planting @ 2% drench and spray). Maximum number of leaves per plant (12.56) was recorded in T3 (application of PGPR MIX-I at planting @ 2% of FYM). The leaf breadth (9.66 cm) and number of suckers per plant (4.25) was highest in T7 (application of PGPR MIX-I twice, first at planting and second after 3 weeks).
Regarding the flowering characters, the lowest number of days taken for flowering (44.69 days) was noticed in T4. There was no significant difference found between the treatments for number of days taken from bud opening to harvest and life of flowers in the plant. Total number of flowers produced (24) was found to be significantly superior in T8 (application of PGPR MIX-II twice, first at planting and second after 3 weeks). Peak flowering period was recorded during summer season, in which T8 produced highest number of flowers (17.18).
In flower quality parameters highest diameter of flower (11.46 cm), flower disc diameter (3.91 cm) and width of ray florets (0.76 cm) was recoded in T8 .The colour of ray florets and disc florets was found to be hot pink and greenish yellow respectively for all the treatments. Other flower quality parameters such as number of ray florets (69.60), length of ray florets (5.51 cm), length of flower stalk (51.62 cm) and girth of flower stalk (2.45 cm) was found to be maximum in T7. The visual appeal of flowers were assessed based on three characters, in which T8 recorded highest value for general appearance (4.60), size of the flower (4.50) and colour development (4.50).
In yield parameters, the highest number (24) of flowers per plant per year was recorded in T8 and the yield of flowers were highest during summer season (17.18) in the same treatment. The vase life studies showed that the highest number of days for discoloration of petal (6.56 days) and petal fall (14.94 days) was recorded in T3 (application of PGPR MIX-I at planting @ 2% of FYM). The number of days taken for drooping of flower head was found to be highest (9.43 days) in T9 (control).
Environmental parameters (temperature(0C), relative humidity (%) and light intensity (lx)) inside the rain shelter during the growing period was recorded and an increase in flower yield was noticed with an increase in temperature and light intensity. Highest benefit cost ratio was recorded in T8 (1.78) and the plants were comparatively tolerant to mite infestation compared to other treatments.
The establishment of tissue culture plantlets of gerbera under rain shelter was100 per cent two and four weeks after planting. Application of PGPR MIX-II twice, first at planting and second after 3 weeks (T8) was the best treatment in terms of flower quality parameters, yield parameters and less pest incidence and benefit cost ratio followed by application of PGPR MIX-I twice first at planting and second after 3 weeks (T7), application of PGPR MIX- II at planting( T4) and application of PGPR MIX-I at planting (T3).
Future line of work maybe enhancement of yield and quality of flower through nutrient application and scheduling with microbial inoculants. Studies on root parameters and survival of microbial inoculants after inoculation and microbial inoculant treatment of gerbera in open and protected conditions can be taken up based on the result obtained in the present study .