Effect of gamma radiation on vegetative and floral characters of commercial varieties of gladiolus (Gladiolus hybrida L.)

Corms of three cultivars of gladiolus (Gladiolus hybrida L.) were exposed to eight doses of gamma radiation from 1KR to 8KR for induction of genetic variability. Most of characters were stimulated till 4KR treatment but started to reduce at higher doses whereas treatment of 3KR proved better overall treatments including control. The doses of 7KR and 8KR proved injurious as the number of leaves, length of spike, number of florets reduced drastically in all three cultivars viz. Nova Lux, Sunset Sky and White Prosperity but least in Nova Lux as compared among three. No colour variation in florets and whole spike, decrease in the number of floral organs and their fasciation and spike bifurcation were also observed from 6KR to 8KR treatments in all varieties. Treatments of 7KR and 8K were observed to be highly reduced growth as far as its vegetative and floral characters are to be concerned. In the present investigations, treatment T3 i.e., 3KR to be more prominent than other treatments and cultivar White Prosperity appeared to be more sensitive and cultivar Nova Lux more stable and responded positively to Gamma radiation treatment.