MSc.

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.), belongs to the family Apiaceae, is an
important annual spice herb, mainly cultivated for its fruits as well as for its tender
green leaves. Recent understanding of the neutraceutical and medicinal properties of
the leaves elevated the status of this herb.
The present study entitled ‘Performance evaluation of leaf coriander
(Coriandrum sativum L.) types in the plains of Kerala’ was conducted in the
Department of Plantation crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara
during October 2015 to March 2017 with the objectives of evaluating five coriander
varieties namely CO-1, CO-2, CO-3, CO (Cr-4) and Arka Isha in the rain shelter
during different time of sowing viz., April-June 2016 (season S1), July to September
2016 (S2), October-December (S3) and January-March 2017 (S4) and in different
growing conditions viz. rain shelter and open field for their growth, herbage yield and
quality.
The study reported that all the varieties showed difference with respect to the
growth and herbage yield. Irrespective of time of sowing, the varieties CO (Cr-4)
followed by CO-2, CO-3 and CO-1, recorded the lowest number of days to seed
germination, first leaf, second leaf and third leaf emergence whereas, Arka Isha took
more number of days for these parameters. The varieties Arka Isha and CO (Cr-4)
yielded highest mean number of leaves in all the time of sowing (16.30 and 15.69).
Generally, the crop grown during July-September (S2) exhibited maximum number
of leaves (16.36) at harvest. Irrespective of time of sowing, the variety Arka Isha
performed better with respect to the mean herbage and biomass yield per plant with
highest yield during July-September (S2) and the lowest during January-March (S4).
The variety CO (Cr-4) was the earliest to show serration of leaves in all the
four time of sowing (37.43 days), flowering (40.19 days) and seed set (47.69 days).
Whereas, the variety Arka Isha showed delay in leaf serration (49.29 days), flowering
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(54.05 days), and seed set (63.27 days). The quality aspects like vitamin C and total
chlorophyll were observed highest in Arka Isha (158.98 mg/100g and 2.20 mg/100g,
respectively). With respect to the total chlorophyll, July-September (S2) sown crop
(2.27 mg/100g) was superior. However, volatile oil content (0.05 per cent -0.06 per
cent) was not affected by time of sowing.
When grown in different growing conditions, the crops under rain shelter took
significantly more days for germination (9.73 days), first leaf (12.49 days), second
leaf (14.72 days) and third leaf (16.68 days) emergence, days to leaf serration (44.44
days), flowering (48.94 days) and seed set (58.80 days) compared to that in the open
field. Also, the crop grown under rain shelter exhibited higher number of leaves at
harvest (14.18), herbage and biomass yield (9.21g/plant and 12.78g/plant). In both the
growing conditions, Arka Isha and CO-1 yielded more herbage (10.46g/plant
and.8.97g/plant, respectively). The quality aspects like vitamin C and total
chlorophyll (189.72 mg and 1.98mg) was found higher in the open field.
The result indicated that July-September (S2) sowing was beneficial in the
plains of Kerala to get favourable growth and herbage yield. The varieties Arka Isha
followed by CO-1 gave maximum herbage yield. The rain shelter grown crops
performed better than that in the open field for growth and herbage yield. However,
vitamin C and total chlorophyll was higher in open field. The volatile oil was not
affected by time of sowing and growing conditions.
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