1Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Dr. Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan(HP)
Regional Horticultural Research and Training Station, Dhaulakuan, Distt. Sirmour(HP)
*Corresponding author: E-mail: priyanka.thakur@gmail.com, rhrsdhaulakuan@gmail.com
Online published on 4 December, 2018.
A experiment was conducted to evaluate 15 cultivars of dahlia introduced from Forest Research Institute's central and Thakur Nursery, Dehra Dun, during October 2013–2015 to study different growth and flowering characteristics under sub-montane, subtropical and lowhill conditions at Dhaulakuan, district Sirmour (Himachal Pradesh). Early flowering cultivars belonged to Kenya series (100–110 days), i.e Kenya Pink, Kenya Dark Pink, Kenya Light Pink, Kenya Orange and Kenya Yellow. Maximum plant height was observed in cultivar, Giani Zail Singh (1.40 cm), maximum plant spread (0.85 cm) in cultivar SP Srimati. Largest flower size of 15.90 cm was recorded in cultivar, Arthur Humbley. Flowering duration was longest in cultivars, Giani Zail Singh and Maa Sharda (26.80 and 25.53 days). Both cultivars were found suitable for cut flower production, having sturdy stems of 8.05mm and 8.75 mm thickness, respectively.
Evaluation, Sub-montane, Subtropical, Low hill zone, Bulbous flowers, Cut flowers
