Influence of plant growth promoters and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on growth, flowering and biochemical attributes of gladiolus cv Arka Amar

The investigations on gladiolus cv Arka Amar were conducted at College of Horticulture, Anantharajupeta, Andhra Pradesh. The 13 treatments consisted of different combinations of plant growth promoters which were tested in randomized block design with three replications. Results revealed that among different plant growth promoters tried the treatment T₈(Pre-soaking of corms with GA₃200 ppm + AMF + foliar spray with GA₃200 ppm) recorded significantly taller plants (63.35 cm), number of leaves per plant (8.67), number of florets per spike (14.27), longer spikes (75.33 cm), fresh weight of cut spikes (39.35 g) and number of spikes per plant (2.20). Total carotenoids (0.76 mg/g), phenols (1.24 mg/g) and cardohydrate content (15.21 mg/g) were recorded highest in T₁₀ (Pre-soaking of corms with BA 50 ppm + foliar spray with BA 50 ppm). It was concluded that the treatment T₈ was an optimum nutrient combination for enhancing growth and flowering and T₁₀ for various biochemical attributes in gladiolus cv Arka Amar.