Genetic variability, heritability, Genetic advance, correlation coefficient and path analysis in gladiolus

Gladiolus (Gladiolus floribundus L.) is a bulbous ornamental plant belongs to family Iridaceae. It is an elegant cut flower grown for its magnificent spikes. The estimates of heritability varied from 99.5% to 61.1%. The highest heritability estimates in broad sense was observed for the characters vase life (99.5%) and lowest for height at 30 days after planting. Expected genetic advance expressed as per cent of mean ranged from 18.59% to 144.78%.The highest of genetic advance as percentage of mean was recorded for number of cormels per plant (144.78%) and lowest for height at 30 days after planting (18.59%). High genetic advance in percentage of mean coupled with high heritability was recorded for the characters number of sprouts, number of spikes per plant, length of spike, vase life, weight of corms per plant, weight of cormels per plant, number of corms per plant, number of cormels per plant provide greater scope for further improvement of these traits in advance generations. Genetic advance ranged from 1.12 to 38.38.The genetic advance is highest for Length of spike (cm) (38.38) and lowest for Number of sprouts (1.12) .The PCV were higher than GCV for all the characters taken into consideration. Phenotypic and genotypic coefficient variations were highest for number of spikes per plant (35.76 and 36.25 respectively) and lowest for days to opening of first florets (8.77 and 9.31 respectively). High genetic advance in percentage of mean coupled with high heritability was recorded for the characters number of sprouts, number of spikes per plant, length of spike, vase life, weight of corms per plant, weight of cormels per plant, number of corms per plant, number of cormels per plant.