MSc

The study entitled ‘Evaluation of Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Bolus) varieties for rain shelter cultivation’ was conducted in the Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2015-2016 with the objective of evaluating varieties/ accessions of Gerbera jamesonii Bolus for growth, yield and floral attributes under rain shelter for selecting promising varieties for commercial cultivation.
The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design with four replications. One month old tissue culture plantlets of twenty varieties of gerbera viz., Aragon, Mammut, Bismark, Aviance, Mariata, Ruble, Jinx, Lexington, Aquamelone, Palm beach, Atletico, Canzone, Orinaco, Esmara, Double date, Ballroom, Carrera, Poseidon, Louvre, and Beaudine were planted and evaluated for various growth, yield and floral parameters.
Vegetative parameters of the plant were studied and Beaudine recorded highest mean plant spread (187.61 cm) and leaf length (38.17 cm). Number of leaves (14.50) and sucker production (3.87) were highest in variety Jinx. Ruble was found to have highest leaf breadth (11.61cm).
Significant differences were noticed among varieties for flowering characters. Double date produced highest number of flowers (19.98) during rainy season and highest mean yield in summer was obtained from variety Carrera (14.32). Mammut was the low yielder in both the seasons. Lowest number of days for flowering (47.50 days) was taken by Aragon followed by Esmara (49.87 days). Jinx took lowest number of days from bud opening to harvest maturity (7.00 days). Esmara recorded highest number of days from bud opening to maturity (13.12 days). Palm beach recorded highest number of days for first flowering (129.75 days). Mean yield plant-1 year-1 was highest for Double date (26.64). Flowers of Lexington were found to have longest life in plant (8.70 days).
Flower quality also differed significantly among the varieties. Beaudine recorded highest length of flower stalk (57.47 cm), flower diameter (11.55 cm), and ray floret length (4.81 cm). Disc diameter was highest for Esmara (4.75 cm). Ruble recorded highest number of ray florets (75.70). Aquamelone produced flowers with highest mean ray floret width (1.09 cm). Highest stalk girth was observed in Mammut (2.33 cm). Varieties exhibited wide variation in colour of ray florets. Flower disc colour varied from greenish yellow to yellow and black. Highest vase life was recorded for Mariata and Aragon (10.75 days) and was lowest for Orinaco and Louvre (6.25 days). Beaudine, Mammut, Carrera, Mariata and Aquamelone obtained highest score (4.87) for visual appeal. Palm beach, Ball room, Canzone, and Aragon, obtained lowest score.
For all the observed characters, phenotypic coefficient of variability (PCV) was higher than genotypic coefficient of variability (GCV). Highest GCV and PCV were noticed for yield in summer season. Difference between phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation was highest for number of suckers plant-1. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed in characters like yield in summer season, number of days for first flowering and yield in rainy season. Highly significant and positive phenotypic correlation was obtained for flower diameter with length of ray florets. Yield in summer season exhibited significant positive correlation with total number of flowers produced and number of flowers plant -1.
Twenty varieties of gerbera were evaluated under rain shelter and observed significant differences for various growth, yield, and floral attributes. Beaudine was the best performed variety with good vegetative growth, highest flower diameter and stalk length which are important characters for a commercial cut flower. Peak flowering in this variety was observed during summer. Beaudine, Mariata, Carrera, Ruble and Aquamelone can be recommended for commercial cultivation under rain shelter as these performed well under rain shelter and produced good quality flowers, and obtained high BC ratios. Further studies can be conducted on standardization of agro techniques, and integrated nutrient management for quality improvement in gerbera using promising varieties of this study.