Blossoms beyond borders: Unveiling top-performing chrysanthemum varieties for eastern dry Karnataka

Abstract

An investigation was carried out in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications at the experimental block of Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, College of Horticulture, Bengaluru, Karnataka during 2021 and 2022. Among the ten chrysanthemum cultivars, the cv. Cream white recorded higher plant height (85.37 cm). The cv. Hemmady local recorded maximum plant spread in both East-West (61.70 cm) and North-South direction (59.87 cm) and maximum number of primary (19.20) and secondary branches per plant (37.73) at grand growth stage. The cv. Chandini recorded maximum yield per hectare (10.55 t/ha). The cv. Kaveri Orange produced widest flower (5.74 cm) and recorded longer shelf life in both ambient condition (4.58 days) and in refrigerated condition (12.92 days). The cv. Marigold recorded maximum 100 flower weight (435.83 g). Thus, from the present investigation it can be concluded that out of 10 cultivars, cvs. Chandini, Hemmaady Local and Kaveri Orange were found highly suitable for commercial cultivation under the Eastern dry zones of Karnataka.