Evaluation of Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus L.) Genotypes Under West Garo Hills District, Meghalaya

: Evaluation of gladiolus cultivars to identify the suitable variety for successful cultivation, flower and corm production under agro-climatic condition of Tura, West Garo Hills district was performed. Twenty two varieties namely, The Queen, Red Majesty, Applause, Charm Glow, Candyman, Interpid, Eight Wonder, Pacifica, Tiger Flame, Souvenir, American Beauty, Oscar, White Prosperity, Wedding Bouquet, Poppy Tears, Morocco Beauty, Summer Sunshine, Wing Wang Sang, Her Majesty, Green Bay, Priscilla and Red Ginger were selected for their evaluation. Uniform size of gladiolus corms (3.00-4.00 cm diameter) were planted on raised bed following randomized block design with three replications. Uniform package of practices were followed throughout the experiment to grow a healthy crop. Significant response in vegetative, flowering and corm characters was observed in cultivar Candyman followed by Interpid, Eight Wonder, Priscilla, Charm Glow and Wedding Bouquet. Sprouting of corms was advanced in cultivar Interpid (6.67 days) and delayed in cultivar Wedding Bouquet (29.00 days). Highest plant height (97.13cm),number of leaves per plant (9.80) and length of leaf (65.47cm) in cultivar Candyman, while, breadth of leaf (5.27cm) in Wing Wang Sang was recorded. However, earliness in spike emergence (68.58 days) and days to first floret opening (77.53 days) in Eight Wonder, maximum spike length (109.77cm) and rachis length (65.50cm) in Candyman, florets per spike (15.13) in Wedding Bouquet and spike girth (0.90cm) in Priscilla were observed. Enhanced Field life (14.10 days) and vase-life of cut gladiolus flowers under tap water (11.73 days) was observed in cultivar Charm Glow. Whereas, maximum corm weight (93.00g) was noticed with cultivar Candyman followed by American Beauty (75.43g) and Interpid (69.73g).