Influence of ethrel and sand on growth and corm yield of gladiolus cv. congo song

The experiment was conducted at C.S.A.U.A.T., Kanpur to find out effect ofethrel and sand on growth and corm yield of gladiolus cv. Congo Song. Application of sand beneath the corm at planting time significantly delayed corm sprouting; increased number of sprouts/corm, girth of plant, width of leaf, height of plant, total yield of corm/ha and number of cormels/plant over no sand dressing beneath the corm; while corm planting in soil only caused earlier sprouting and produced heavier daughter corm and larger size cormels. In both the media, higher level of ethrel (750ppm) caused much delay in corm sprouting, while at 500ppm level it significantly increased the number of sprouts/mother corm, and thickness of plant. The lower dose of ethrel (250ppm), in both the media, was found effective in increasing plant height, total yield of corms/ha and number ofcormels/plant.