Vegetative and flowering behaviour of gerbera cultivars in different months under polyshadenet structure

Gerbera flower crop produces quality flowers under protected structure, which is highly costly and beyond the reach of common farmers. Hence, in the present investigation 18 cultivars of gerbera were evaluated under partially modified atmospheric structure i.e; polyshadenet structure with an objective to study the vegetative growth and flower production ability of the gerbera cultivars in different months of a year starting from July 2012 to June 2013 following completely randomized design with three replications. The results revealed that, among the 18 cultivars of gerbera, the cultivar "Cocharelle" putforth significantly maximum plant height in the months July (31.20 cm) and September 932.72 cm), 2012, January 933.74 cm) and February (34.34 cm), 2013. Whereas "Silvester" in the months August (32.33 cm), October (30.17 cm), November (33.86 cm) and December (30.94 cm), 2012 and the cultivar "Local Red" in the months March (32.14 cm), May (28.87 cm) and June (31.01 cm), 2013. The cultivar 'Improved Pink' produced significantly maximum number of leaves/plant (50.11) in the month of April, 2013, the cultivar "Acadia" from July to September 2012, and 'Improved Pink' enhanced the number from October 2012 to June 2013. The cultivar "Acadia" was found to be high suckering one, producing more suckers i.e; 7.20 in the month of March 2013 and remained constant up to June 2013. The other high suckering cultivars were 'Improved Pink', "Local Red", "Kayak", "Shimmer", "Destina" and "Cocharelle". Cultivar "Cocharelle" was highly floriferous cultivar producing more flowers/plant being maximum (3.16) in the month of January, 2013 followed by 'Improved Pink', "Local Red", "Molibu", "Dune", "Destina", ' Sivester', 'Acalia', "Shimmer", "Kayak" and 'Goliath'. The cultivar 'Goliath' recorded significantly longer stalk (59.19 cm) in the month of January 2013 and the other cultivars with longer stalks were "Cocharelle" (53.00 cm), "Silvester" (50.19 cm), "Local Red", "Shimmer", "Pink Elegance", "Destina", "Dune", 'Brilliance', 'Sunway', 'Dalma', "Molibu". Larger flower diameter (11.45 cm) was recorded in 'Goliath' in January 2013. The other cultivars producing larger flowers were 'Shimmer' 910.92 cm), "Cocharelle" (10.84 cm), "Local Red" 910.10 cm), "Molibu" (9.29 cm), "Dune" (9.22 cm) and 'Casiana' (9.10 cm). The cultivars with prolonged blooming period were "Molibu", 'Rosalin', "Cocharelle", "Local Red", "Acadia" and "Destina" being maximum (13.37 days) in "Molibu". Hence most promising cultivars suitable for cut flower purpose under polyshadenet structure are "Cocharelle", "Molibu", "Dune", 'Goliath', "Shimmer", "Silvester" and "Destina". The period from October 2012 to March 2013 was found to be most congenial period for yield and quality of the cut flowers.