Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus Hort.) is a
popular bulbous ornamental flower crop belonging to the
family Iridaceae, and is aptly known as ‘Queen of bulbous
flowers’.  It is native to the Mediterranean region, tropical
South Africa and Asia. It is also cultivated in various states
of India, mainly, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh,
Karnataka, Uttaranchal, Punjab, Haryana, Sikkim, Jammu
and Kashmir, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu,
Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan (Arora et al, 2002). It is
commercially propagated by corms and cormels that have
a dormancy period of about three and six months,
respectively. The degree of dormancy in gladiolus varies
with the cultivar. Dormancy of cormels is longer than that
of corms (Ginzburg, 1973). Temperature during storage of
corms affects dormancy: higher temperature enhances
dormancy while lower temperature reduces it (Denny, 1936).
Thus, the present investigation was undertaken to study the
effect of temperature and storage period on dormancy of
corms in three gladiolus genotypes and its effect on quality
parameters.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The experiment was conducted during the year 2010-
2011  at Indian Institute of Horticultural Research,

J. Hortl. Sci.
Vol. 8(1):114-117, 2013

Short communication

Effect of temperature and period of storage on breaking dormancy in gladiolus
(Gladiolus grandiflorus Hort.) corms

Varun S. Amingad, T. Manjunatha Rao, R. Venugopalan1, D.P. Kumar2,
M.V. Dhananjaya and K. Bhanuprakash3

Division of Ornamental Crops, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research
Hessaraghatta Lake Post, Bengaluru-560 089, India

E-mail : varun.amingad@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

An experiment was conducted in 2010-2011 at Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru, on three
gladiolus cultivars viz., ‘Arka Amar’, ‘Darshan’ and ‘Kum Kum’ to study effects of storage temperature (4°C and room
temperature 27±2°C) and length of storage (50, 70 and 90 days) on dormancy of corms. Cv. ‘Kum Kum’ registered
minimum number of days for sprouting (42.71 days), spike emergence (116 days) and days to opening of first floret
(128  days). Corms stored at 4°C resulted in lowest number of days for-sprouting (45.24 days), days to spike emergence
(114.63 days) and days to opening of first floret (126.60 days) and resulted in highest sprouting percentage (58.7%).
Interaction effects revealed that cv. ‘Kum Kum’ stored at 4°C for 90 days after harvest took minimum number of days
to sprouting (25.07 days), days to spike emergence (90.38 days) and days to opening of first floret (102.38 days)
resulting in 100% sprouting.

Key words: Gladiolus, dormancy, storage, corms

1Section of Economics and Statistics, IIHR, Hessaraghatta Lake Post, Bengaluru-560089, India
2Dept. of Horticulture, UAS, GKVK, Bengaluru-560065, India
3Section of Seed Science and Technology, IIHR, Hessaraghatta Lake Post, Bengaluru-560089, India

Hessaraghatta, Bengaluru, located at an altitude of 890
metres above mean sea level, latitude 13058' North and
longitude 77037' East. Three gladiolus genotypes, viz., ‘Arka
Amar’, ‘Darshan’ and ‘Kum Kum’ were studied. The
experiment was laid out in factorial Randomized Complete
Block Design (RCBD) with three factors (variety at 3 levels,
2 different storage temperature and   different storage
duration) and three replications. Statistical analysis was done
using SAS-GLM (SAS, 2008) V 9.2 available with Statistics
Laboratory, IIHR, Bengaluru.

Uniform-sized corms of cultivars Arka Amar,
Darshan and Kum Kum (with diameter ranging from 5.5 to
6.5cm, 5 to 5.5cm and 4 to 4.5cm, respectively) were
collected after harvest and stored at either 4ºC or ambient
condition (27±2ºC). Five corms from each treatment were
taken at 50, 70 and 90 days interval and planted, with three
replications. Plants were grown using recommended
package of practices. Observations were recorded for
fifteen plant characters, viz., sprouting percentage (%), days
to sprouting, days to spike emergence, days to opening of
first floret, plant height (cm), spike length (cm), rachis length
(cm), floret diameter (cm), number of florets per spike,
number of marketable spikes per corm (a spike having more



115

Breaking dormancy in corms of gladiolus

than twelve florets was considered marketable), total number
of spikes per corm, number of florets open at a given time,
flowering duration (days), spike weight (g) and vase life
(days).

Significant difference was found in parameters for
days to sprouting, sprouting percentage, days to spike
emergence and days to opening of first floret, whereas, there
was no significant difference with respect to plant height
and floral characters studied.

Days to sprouting

Data presented in Table 1 reveal that minimum
number of days taken to sprout was recorded in ‘Kum Kum’
(42.7 days), followed by ‘Arka Amar’ (58.8 days) and
‘Darshan’ (74.6 days). Storage at 4°C resulted in earlier
sprouting (45.2 days) compared to that at ambient
temperature (72.1 days). Minimum number of days to sprout
was observed in ‘Kum Kum’ (25.1 days) when corms were
stored at 4°C for 90 days. This finding is in accordance
with results of Jean Ming Hong et al (1997) and Sun Yan
Zhi and Yi Ming Fang (2004) who reported that storage at
5°C improved germination within 21 days. This might be
due to storing the corms at low temperature which results
in faster breaking on dormancy.  Minimum number of days
to sprout was seen when corms of ‘Kum Kum’ were stored
at 4°C (34.8 days), whereas, corms of ‘Darshan’ stored at
ambient conditions took maximum number of days to sprout
(90.6 days). Three-way interaction effects revealed that
corms of ‘Kum Kum’ stored for 90 days at 4°C took the
least number of days to sprout (25.0 days). On the contrary,
corms of ‘Darshan’ stored for 50 days at room temperature
took maximum number of days to sprout (97.3 days).
Significant difference was seen among treatments.

Days to spike emergence

Interaction between storage temperature and duration
of storage showed significant difference for days to spike
emergence (Table 1). Minimum number of days to spike
emergence was seen in ‘Kum Kum’ (116 days), followed
by ‘Arka Amar’ (130.3 days), Maximum number of days to
spike emergence was observed in ‘Darshan’ (141.7 days).
Storing corms at 4°C resulted in earlier spike emergence
(114.6 days) compared to those at ambient conditions (143.5
days). Hsieh and Huang (1970) reported that 40 day
treatment at 5°C successfully broke dormancy in gladiolus
leading to earliness in spike emergence. This may be
attributed to the fact that storing corms at low temperature
reduces ABA content and increases GA

3
 content, thus

helping overcome dormancy, leading to earlier spike
emergence. There was significant difference in time taken
to spike emergence when corms were stored for 90 days
(110.1 days), followed by 70 days (126.3 days) and 50 days
(151.4 days). Minimum number of days taken to spike
emergence was noticed when corms of ‘Arka Amar’ were
stored at 4°C (107.3 days). Whereas, corms of ‘Darshan’
stored at ambient conditions took maximum number of days
to spike emergence (157.6). Three-way interaction effects
revealed that corms of ‘Arka Amar’ stored for 90 days at
4°C took the least number of days for spike emergence
(81.6 days). On the other hand, corms of ‘Arka Amar’
stored for 50 days at room temperature took maximum
number of days to spike emergence (171.0 days).

Days to opening of first floret

All the three factors viz., variety, storage temperature
and duration of storage were found to be significantly
affecting days to opening of first floret (Table 1). Minimum
number of days taken to opening of first floret was seen in
‘Kum Kum’ (128 days), followed by ‘Arka Amar’ (142.3
days), whereas, maximum number of days to opening of
first floret was observed in ‘Darshan’ (153.7). Corms stored
at 40C were early to first flower emergence (126.6 days)
compared to ambient conditions (156 days), differing
significantly. Suh and Kwack (1992) reported that longer
the corms stored at 5°C, greater was the effect on breaking
dormancy. In the present study, ‘Arka Amar’ stored at 4°C
for three months took less number of days for flowering
(93.60 days). Three-way interaction effects revealed that
corms of ‘Arka Amar’ stored for 90 days at 4°C took the
least number of days to first flower emergence (93.6 days).
On the other hand, corms of ‘Arka Amar’ stored for 50
days at room temperature took maximum number of days
for opening of the first floret (183 days).

Sprouting percentage

Sprouting percentage ranged between 7.77 and
78.35%. Maximum sprouting was recorded in ‘Kum Kum’,
while minimum was observed in ‘Darshan’. Seenivasan
(2001) reported genotypic variation with respect to per cent
sprouting. Storage at 4°C resulted in maximum sprouting
(58.70%) compared to storage at ambient temperature
(22.41%). Three-way interaction effects showed that corms
of ‘Arka Amar’ and ‘Kum Kum’ stored at 4°C for 90 days
sprouted within 50 days of planting, resulting in 100%
sprouting. On the contrary, corms of ‘Arka Amar’ and
‘Darshan’ stored at room temperature for 50 and 70 days
failed to sprout within the first 50 days of planting.

J. Hortl. Sci.
Vol. 8(1):114-117, 2013



116

Table 1. Effect of variety, storage temperature, storage duration and their interactions on days to sprouting, days to spike emergence
and days to opening of first floret in gladiolus

Treatment combination Days to Days to spike Days to opening
sprouting emergence of first floret

V
1
T

1
D

1
62.0 137.9 149.9

V
1
T

1
D

2
39.0 102.7 114.7

V
1
T

1
D

3
26.0 81.6 93.6

V
1
T

2
D

1
86.8 171.0 183.0

V
1
T

2
D

2
83.8 158.7 170.7

V
1
T

2
D

3
54.9 129.9 141.9

V
2
T

1
D

1
68.3 142.6 154.6

V
2
T

1
D

2
57.0 119.8 131.8

V
2
T

1
D

3
50.4 114.7 126.7

V
2
T

2
D

1
97.3 167.2 179.2

V
2
T

2
D

2
94.3 161.3 173.3

V
2
T

2
D

3
80.3 144.5 156.5

V
3
T

1
D

1
41.0 142.3 154.3

V
3
T

1
D

2
34.4 99.7 111.7

V
3
T

1
D

3
25.0 90.4 102.4

V
3
T

2
D

1
62.2 148.2 160.2

V
3
T

2
D

2
52.6 116.0 128.0

V
3
T

2
D

3
37.0 99.7 111.7

V V
1

V
2

V
3

V
1

V
2

V
3

V
1

V
2

V
3

58.7 74.5 42.7 130.3 141.7 116.0 142.3 153.7 128.0

T T
1

T
2

- T
1

T
2

- T
1

T
2

-

45.2 72.1 - 114.6 143.5 - 126.6 156.0 -

D D
1

D
2

D
3

D
1

D
2

D
3

D
1

D
2

D
3

70.2 60.1 45.6 151.5 126.3 110.1 163.5 138.3 122.1

V
1

V
2

V
3

V
1

V
2

V
3

V
1

V
2

V
3

T
1

42.3 75.2 58.5 107.3 153.2 125.7 119.3 165.2 137.7
T

2
90.6 34.8 50.6 157.6 110.8 121.3 169.6 122.8 133.3

D
1

74.4 61.4 40.5 154.4 130.7 105.7 166.4 142.7 117.7
D

2
82.7 75.6 65.3 154.9 140.5 129.6 166.9 152.5 141.6

D
3

53.6 43.5 31.0 145.2 107.8 95.0 157.2 119.8 107.0

D
1

D
2

D
3

D
1

D
2

D
3

D
1

D
2

D
3

T
1

58.4 43.5 33.8 140.9 107.4 95.5 152.9 119.4 107.5
T

2
82.1 76.9 57.4 162.1 145.3 124.7 174.1 157.3 136.7

CD (P=0.05)
V 1.11 1.45 1.45
T 0.91 1.18 1.18
D 1.11 1.45 1.45
V × T 1.57 2.05 2.05
V × D 1.93 2.51 2.51
T × D 1.57 2.05 2.05
V × T × D 2.73 3.55 3.55

V
1
: Arka Amar T

1
: 40C D

1
: 50 Days storage

V
2
: Darshan T

2
: Room Temperature (27±2ºC) D

2
: 70 Days storage

V
3
: Kum Kum D

3
: 90 Days storage

Amingad et al

J. Hortl. Sci.
Vol. 8(1):114-117, 2013



117

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(MS Received 22 October 2011, Accepted 15 June 2012, Revised 07 February 2012)

J. Hortl. Sci.
Vol. 8(1):114-117, 2013

Breaking dormancy in corms of gladiolus