Evaluation of dahlia (Dahlia variabilis L) cultivars for growth and flowering characteristics under sub-montane, sub-tropical low hill zone of Himachal Pradesh

The investigations were aimed at to evaluate the dahlia genotypes for growth and yield parameters under submontane, sub-tropical low hill zone of Himachal Pradesh. Significant differences were found in all the growth and yield parameters among different cultivars of dahlia. Maximum plant height was recorded in cultivar Shanti (118.29 cm), maximum plant spread in cultivar Black Eternity (58.67 cm) and the highest stem girth in cultivar Anadinath (1.56 cm). Maximum internodal length, flower stalk length and flowering duration (24.01 cm, 21.79 cm and 107.56 days respectively) were found in cultivar Red Army. The highest number of side shoots was recorded in cultivars SP Kamla (12.22) and Lokeshwar (12.22). Leaf area was maximum in cultivar Sohini (257.71 cm²;) and maximum number of leaves in Suryadev (132.44). The cultivar Giani Zail Singh took maximum number of days (74.67 days) for the flower bud initiation whereas the minimum number of days for flowering was taken by the cultivar Bada Kachari (102.42 days).Among all the tested cultivars the largest flower size was recorded in Kenya Orange (26.28 cm) and maximum vase life in cultivar Mother Teresa (6.44 days).