Evaluation of asiatic lily cultivars under protected cultivation

The study was conducted to identify the suitable Asiatic lily cultivars under naturally ventilated polyhouse during 2012-13, with respect to yield and quality cut flowers and also to find out the best chemical preservative for enhancing the vase life in the Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, College of Horticulture, Mudigere. There are seven cultivars included in the study viz., Gironde, Levi, Navona, Pavia, Pollyanna, Turandot and Tresor. Among them there were wide and highly significant variations observed in the performance with respect to growth, floral, cut flower yield, quality and bulb yield and bulb quality parameters. The cv. 'Levi' produced maximum number of quality cut flowers and was found to be significantly superior over others. 'Gironde' and 'Pavia' were found to be the next superior cultivars. 'Gironde' produced the longest stalk length, whereas; stalk girth, diameter of bud, dry matter production and flower weight was more in 'Turandot'. 'Pavia' produced longest bud before opening, whereas, bigger flowers were produced by 'Levi'.