In the present investigation corms of eight gladiolus varieties (Yellow Golden, Nathan Red, White Friendship, Jester Gold, American Beauty, Red Majesty, Purple Flora and Algarve) were exposed to gamma rays treatments (0, 25, 40, 55 and 70 Gy; Source 60Co). These corms were planted under open field condition in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with factorial concept. The effect of gamma irradiation was studied on various floral characteristics of the treated plants. The findings indicated that gamma radiation treatments had significant detrimental effect on days to spike initiation, spike length, rachis length, number and size of florets, number of days to flowering and flower duration in all the varieties under study. Plants treated with higher doses (55 Gy and 70 Gy) showed deleterious effect of ionising radiations although at lowest dose (25 Gy) plants were not affected much. Plant height was reduced after irradiation as compared to untreated plants and was recorded minimum at highest doses. Radiation treatments at higher doses caused delay in spike initiation with decrease in spike length, number and size of florets in vM1. However, at lower doses diminishing effect of gamma irradiation was observed in vM2. | Floral characters of gladiolus as influenced by gamma irradiation
