Figures (8)  Tables (7)
    • Figure 1. 

      Production field planting with an example nonlodging gladiolus genotype (GL-1). Scale: bar = 6 cm.

    • Figure 2. 

      Gladiolus cut flower stem lodging in the field production trials (GL-4), requiring staking or use of support mechanisms. Scale: bar = 6 cm.

    • Figure 3. 

      Example cut tall (left) vs dwarf (right) glad stem lengths. Scale: bar = 14 cm.

    • Figure 4. 

      Stage when 50% of the gladiolus flowers/stem (occurring on genotype GL-8 on day 9) are commercially classified as 'wilted' or 'dead' [24]. Scale: bar = 3 cm.

    • Figure 5. 

      Example cut gladiolus stems (stage 2) at day 0, the beginning of the experiment, for all six replications of one genotype. Scale: bar = 3 cm.

    • Figure 6. 

      Gladiolus stem post-stage when > 50% of the gladiolus flowers have wilted (GL-11 rep 1 on day 9). Scale: bar = 3 cm.

    • Figure 7. 

      Set of six replicate gladiolus stems (GL-6 stems all reps) at the end of the experiment on day 9. Scale: bar = 3 cm.

    • Figure 8. 

      Example of gladiolus flowers failing to open completely (GL-6 rep 2 stem on day 9). Note: This genotype often produced a secondary flowering shoot (left). Scale: bar = 3 cm.

    • GenotypeNo. wks
      to VBD
      No. wks to flowering, terminationPlant height
      (cm)
      Plant width
      (cm)
      No. of
      leaves
      Flower petal type, flower color or petal markings
      Dwarf stature (< 90 cm)
      GL-11013 ab, 1580.0 b23.08Slightly ruffled, peach, white venation
      GL-21215 b, 1957.0 a13.09Hooded lt. pink/creamy white, yellow throat
      Tall stature (> 90 cm)
      GL-31213 ab, 1591.5c44.06Ruffled red w/white throat
      GL-41012 a, 1698.0 c20.56Fuchsia-red w/white streaked venation
      GL-51112 a, 14101.0 cd26.56Dark orange
      GL-61113 ab, 16115.0 d36.08Hooded cream w/yellow throat, red venation
      GL-71113 ab, 14111.0 d228Red
      GL-81112 a, 1693.0 c25.08Ruffled, red w/white throat
      GL-91012 a, 14112.0 d60.08Ruffled red w/yellow throat
      GL-101014 ab, 16117.2 de16.58Ruffled peach w/blotch (eye)
      GL-111214 ab, 16121.0 de53.08Ruffled orange w/white throat
      'Beatrice'1113 ab, 17104.5 cd27.68Ruffled pink picotee, white w/yellow throat
      'Manhattan'1012 a, 17100.5 cd43.58Red
      Significance0.782 ns0.034 *, 0.195 ns0.001 ***0.158 ns0.166 ns
      Flowering termination week number was determined when > 50% of the flowers had senesced. Significance (p-values) were determined from univariate ANOVAs and mean separations derived from Tukey's Honestly Significantly Difference (HSD) test at α = 0.05.

      Table 1. 

      Hybrid gladioli of dwarf (< 90 cm) or tall stature (> 90 cm; Breck's Holland[25]) tested for field performance data (wk 22 planting dates), averaged over three years (2019, 2021, and 2022) grown under standard commercial field production trials in Rosemount, MN, USA for: number of weeks to visible bud date (VBD; VBD wk. no. – planting wk. no.), number of weeks to flowering (flowering wk. no. – planting wk. no.), number of weeks to termination of flowering (termination wk. no. – planting wk. no.), plant height (cm), plant width (cm), number of leaves, and flower petal type, flower color or petal markings.

    • GenotypeInflorescence cut
      stem length (cm)
      Total no. floret
      buds/stem
      Inflorescence internode
      length (cm)
      Total no. (%) opened flowers
      DDWFLFPPooledDDWFLFPPooled
      Dwarf stature (< 90 cm)
      GL-143.5a42.5a7.7a5.3ab5.8a-c5.1ab (66%)
      GL-2z40.2a37.0a9.5a-c4.2a3.9a2.89a (28%)
      Tall stature (> 90 cm)
      GL-391.5d82.0d17.8g4.8a5.0ab12.2de (68%)
      GL-457.4b64.8bc10.1a-d5.8a-c6.3bd6.2a-c (62%)
      GL-5x65.8bc56.8b13.2e-f4.5a4.8a2.8a (22%)
      GL-665.3bc71.7c11.9c-f5.8a-c5.7a-c6.9a-c (59%)
      GL-7w62.0b73.3c12.9d-f4.9ab5.6a-c5.5ab (43%)
      GL-869.8bc68.3bc10.2a-e6.5cd7.1d9.0cd (88%)
      GL-9w60.0b57.7b9.0ab6.9d6.2bd8.1b-d (90%)
      GL-10w67.0bc69.0bc10.6a-e6.5cd6.3bd10.0c-e (94%)
      GL-11y76.0c68.0bc14.0f5.4a-c4.9ab12.8e (91%)
      'Beatrice'73.5c69.2bc12.3c-f5.9a-c5.7a-c7.2bc (58%)
      'Manhattan'61.8b67.0bc8.3ab7.5d8.4d7.6bc (92%)
      Significancev
      Genotype (G)F = 17.31***F = 13.26***F = 8.29***F = 6.48***
      Treatment (T)F = 13.12***F = 0.63nsF = 3.76*F = 1.33ns
      G × TF = 1.38nsF = 0.66nsF = 0.64nsF = 1.88*
      DDW = deionized, distilled water; FLFP = Floral Life floral preservative or Pooled if treatments were not significantly different. There were n = 6 replications/treatment solution/genotype unless noted otherwise; mean separations within columns based on Tukey's Honestly Significantly Difference (HSD) test at α = 0.05.

      Table 2. 

      Mean inflorescence cut stem length (cm), total no. of floret buds/stem, inflorescence internode length (cm), total no. (%) opened flowers in dwarf and tall stature gladiolus genotypes tested with two treatment solutions applied as continuous vase solutions.

    • Day 0
      FW
      Day 9
      FW
      ΔFWDay 9
      DW
      %
      water
      Inflor. cut
      stem length
      Σ no. flw
      buds/stem
      Inflor. internode
      length
      Σ no.
      open flws
      Σ % open
      flws
      Floret
      1 dia.
      Floret 3
      dia.
      No. flws
      senesced
      /day
      Σ no. flws
      senesced
      No. saleable
      days
      Final pHΔpHSol'n vol/stem
      Day 0 FW1.0
      Day 9 FW0.89**1.0
      ΔFW−0.21*0.24**1.0
      Day 9 DW0.91**0.88**0.091.0
      % water−0.010.18*0.26**−0.25**1.0
      Inflor. cut stem length0.81**0.8**0.060.78**0.031.0
      Σ no. flw buds/stem0.68**0.64**−0.070.49**0.24**0.64**1.0
      Inflor. internode length−0.050.030.160.16−0.24**0.21*−0.58**1.0
      Σ no. open flws0.58**0.31**−0.43**0.45**−0.34**0.53**0.39**0.051.0
      Σ % open flws0.23*−0.01−0.39**0.21*−0.51**0.27*−0.18*0.46**0.80**1.0
      Floret 1 dia.0.39**0.37**0.120.49**−0.180.36**0.010.36**0.31**0.32**1.0
      Floret 3 dia.0.35**0.34**0.070.47**−0.180.39**0.010.37**0.34**0.33**0.88**1.0
      No. flws senesced/day−0.07−0.11−0.03−0.04−0.11−0.01−0.010.010.090.060.020.011.0
      Σ no. flws senesced−0.03−0.08−0.010.01−0.14−0.010.02−0.020.030.00−0.01−0.020.94**1.0
      No. saleable days−0.33**−0.020.46**−0.20*0.29**−0.25**−0.34**0.17−0.62**−0.36**−0.19*−0.25**0.010.031.0
      Final pH0.21−0.02−0.53**0.08−0.190.090.070.030.160.130.15−0.050.020.04−0.081.0
      Δ pH−0.27−0.170.21−0.260.12−0.010.03−0.03−0.13−0.13−0.11−0.330.01−0.010.010.131.0
      Sol'n vol/stem0.75**0.79**−0.220.86**−0.090.76**0.460.380.330.240.350.15−0.19−0.230.100.220.191.0
      DDW = deionized, distilled water; FLFP = Floral Life floral preservative or Pooled if treatments were not significantly different.

      Table 3. 

      Correlation matrix for the postharvest cut flower traits examined in dwarf and tall stature gladiolus genotypes tested with two treatment solutions applied as continuous vase solutions.

    • GenotypeDay 0 stem FW (g)Day 9 stem FW (g)ΔFW (g)Day 9 DW (g)% Water
      PooledDDWFLFPDDWFLFPDDWFLFPDDWFLFP
      Dwarf stature (< 90 cm)
      GL-115.8ab13.9ab14.6ab−2.8a-d−0.2b-d1.9a2.0a75.8b75.4b
      GL-2z9.9a8.7a9.9a−3.2a-d1.8cd1.2a0.9a75.2b82.2bc
      Tall stature (> 90 cm)
      GL-3y54.9g47.7g50.1−15.1a3.0cd5.0e-g5.5fg80.9bc80.2bc
      GL-421.9a-c17.7a-c27.3b-e−1.6b-d2.8cd2.5ab3.4a-d75.6b77.8bc
      GL-5x24.3a-d30.1c-e25.6b-e1.3cd5.6d2.3ab1.2a85.8c90.9cd
      GL-638.4d-f30.6c-e46.9g−5.9ab6.7d3.7b-e4.5c-g78.6bc82.4bc
      GL-7w44.4e-g37.4d-f53.6g−6.2a8.2d5.1e-g5.9g76.0bc80.2bc
      GL-822.2a-c29.4b-e42.2e-g−12.4a9.5d4.4c-g5.1e-g74.1b78.7c
      GL-9w27.4b-d16.3a-c19.1a-c−11.4a−7.9a3.2a-d3.8b-e66.7a67.2a
      GL-10w29.6b-e24.1a-d31.1c-e−1.6b-d−2.2b-d3.3a-d4.2b-g76.1bc76.0bc
      GL-11y34.2c-f27.2b-e31.4c-e−6.6a3.8cd4.3c-g3.7b-e72.8ab71.1ab
      'Beatrice'46.9fg42.5e-g54.5g−2.2a-d5.3d5.1e-g5.8g78.7c80.7bc
      'Manhattan'30.8b-e25.4b-e31.3c-e−3.2a-d−1.6b-d3.1a-d3.7b-e78.0c78.6c
      Significancev
      Genotype (G)F = 15.54***F = 20.99***F = 5.45***F = 14.39***F = 21.80***
      Treatment (T)F = 0.52nsF = 22.42***F = 125.45***F = 43.82***F = 19.69***
      G × TF = 1.45nsF = 1.48nsF = 4.99***F = 1.47nsF = 1.54ns
      DDW = deionized, distilled water; FLFP = Floral Life floral preservative or Pooled if treatments were not significantly different.
      There were n = 6 replications/treatment solution/genotype unless noted otherwise; mean separations within columns based on Tukey's Honestly Significantly Difference (HSD) test at α = 0.05.

      Table 4. 

      Mean day 0 stem fresh weight (FW; g), day 9 stem FW (g), ΔFW (g; day 9 FW – day 0 FW), day 9 dry weight (DW; g), % water in dwarf and tall stature gladiolus genotypes tested with two treatments applied as continuous vase solutions.

    • Genotype1st Flower diameter (cm)3rd Flower diameter (cm)Final pH (ΔpH)Sol'n vol./stem (ml)
      DDWFLFPDDWFLFPDDWFLFPDDWFLFP
      Dwarf stature (< 90 cm)
      GL-15.5a-d6.5d-g4.8a5.4a-d4.9 (3.4)3.5 (0.6)1.73.3
      GL-2z5.0a-d5.0a-d4.2a6.2b-e4.9 (3.4)4.2 (−0.09)53.2
      Tall stature (> 90 cm)
      GL-3y7.5g7.2fg6.2b-e5.6a-d4.9 (3.5)4.2 (−0.1)3535
      GL-45.0a-d4.8ab5.1a-c4.7a5.3 (3.1)4.1 (−0.04)16.816.7
      GL-5x5.8b-e6.0c-f5.2a-c5.3a-d4.2 (4.2)4.1 (−0.02)2820
      GL-64.1a4.6ab3.9a4.1a4.9 (3.5)4.2 (−0.1)21.721.7
      GL-7w7.5g5.0a-d5.5a-d5.5a-d4.9 (3.4)4.8 (−0.7)2030
      GL-87.5g7.2fg6.8de6.3b-e5.1 (3.3)4.1 (−0.1)3025
      GL-9w7.8g6.8e-g6.3b-e5.8a-d5.1 (3.3)4.2 (−0.1)6.75
      GL-10w7.2fg7.7g6.1b-e7.3e5.0 (3.4)4.2 (−0.1)6.710.3
      GL-11y7.0fg6.5d-g6.2b-e6.0b-e5.2 (3.2)4.1 (−0.05)3030
      'Beatrice'6.8e-g7.8g6.1b-e7.8e4.4 (3.9)4.5 (−0.4)6050.8
      'Manhattan'7.0fg8.1g6.0b-e7.0e5.2 (3.2)4.1 (−0.05)6060
      Genotypes Pooled4.92 (3.45)b4.24 (−0.1)a24.7ab23.9a
      Significancev
      Genotype (G)F = 15.51***F = 8.19***F = 0.22nsF = 1.10ns
      Treatment (T)F = 20.59***F = 14.66***F = 13.87***F = 1.91*
      G × TF = 2.27**F = 2.51**F = 0.91nsF = 0.96ns
      z n = 4 reps. y n = 2 reps. x n = 5 reps. w n = 3 reps. v *** p < 0.001, ** p < 0.01, * p < 0.05, ns not significant.
      DDW = deionized, distilled water; FLFP = Floral Life floral preservative or Pooled if treatments were not significantly different.
      There were n = 6 replications/treatment solution/genotype unless noted otherwise; mean separations within columns based on Tukey's Honestly Significantly Difference (HSD) test at α = 0.05.

      Table 5. 

      Mean 1st flower diameter (cm), 3rd flower diameter (cm), final pH, ΔpH, solution volume used per stem (ml) in dwarf and tall stature gladiolus genotypes tested with two treatment solutions applied as continuous vase solutions.

    • GenotypeNo. of
      flowers
      senesced/day
      (days 1−9)
      Total no.
      of flowers
      senesced
      in days 1−9
      No. of
      saleable days
      PooledPooledDDWFLFP
      Dwarf stature (<90 cm)
      GL-10.35ab3.05ab8.0e8.0e
      GL-2z0.15a1.10a7.5b-e8.0e
      Tall stature (>90 cm)
      GL-3y0.25a2.25ab5.5a7.0b-e
      GL-40.50b4.65b7.7c-e7.5b-e
      GL-5x0.10a0.85a7.0b-e8.0e
      GL-60.45ab3.85ab7.8c-e8.0e
      GL-7w0.10a1.10a6.0a8.0e
      GL-80.60b6.80b6.7bc7.8c-e
      GL-9w0.35ab3.15ab7.0b-e6.0a
      GL-10w0.40ab3.2ab6.7bc6.7bc
      GL-11y0.25a2.25a3.0a4.5a
      'Beatrice'0.35ab2.95a7.8c-e8.0e
      'Manhattan'0.50b4.5b8.0e7.3b-e
      Significancev
      Genotype (G)F = 2.446**F = 1.98*F = 9.98***
      Treatment (T)F = 0.55nsF = 0.69nsF = 4.47**
      G × TF = 0.69nsF = 0.73nsF = 1.69*
      z n = 4 reps. y n = 2 reps. x n = 5 reps. w n = 3 reps. v *** p < 0.001, ** p < 0.01, * p < 0.05, ns not significant.
      DDW = deionized, distilled water; FLFP = Floral Life floral preservative or Pooled if treatments were not significantly different.
      There were n = 6 replications/treatment solution/genotype unless noted otherwise; mean separations within columns based on Tukey's Honestly Significantly Difference (HSD) test at α = 0.05.

      Table 6. 

      Mean number of flowers senesced/day in days 1−9, total number of flowers sensed in days 1-9, and number of saleable days (when the 5th floret from the base wilted) in dwarf and tall stature gladiolus genotypes tested with two treatment solutions applied as continuous vase solutions.

    • GenotypeTreatmentMean no. of flowers senesced/day/genotypeχ2 (sig.)
      Day 1Day 2Day 3Day 4Day 5Day 6Day 7Day 8Day 9
      Dwarf stature (< 90 cm)
      GL-1DDW0.000.000.000.670.170.670.500.830.33.82nsz
      FLFP0.000.000.001.000.170.500.671.000.43.07ns
      GL-2DDW0.000.170.000.330.170.330.170.330.25.92ns
      FLFP0.000.170.000.170.000.170.000.170.17.51ns
      Tall stature (> 90 cm)
      GL-3DDW0.000.170.500.500.330.330.170.330.304.51ns
      FLFP0.170.330.170.330.330.330.170.330.204.90ns
      GL-4DDW0.000.000.670.831.000.830.501.000.501.50ns
      FLFP0.000.170.500.670.670.830.671.000.501.77ns
      GL-5DDW0.000.000.170.170.170.170.170.170.106.90ns
      FLFP0.000.000.000.170.000.170.170.170.107.51ns
      GL-6DDW0.000.000.830.330.830.830.671.000.501.79ns
      FLFP0.000.000.500.330.670.500.500.670.403.28ns
      GL-7DDW0.170.170.330.330.330.330.330.170.204.90ns
      FLFP0.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.009.00ns
      GL-8DDW0.830.500.830.671.000.501.001.000.700.43ns
      FLFP0.170.500.500.501.000.500.500.500.502.08ns
      GL-9DDW0.000.500.170.500.500.330.500.500.303.61ns
      FLFP0.330.500.330.500.330.500.330.500.403.10ns
      GL-10DDW0.000.170.500.500.500.500.500.500.403.28ns
      FLFP0.000.170.500.500.500.500.500.500.403.28ns
      GL-11DDW0.000.330.170.170.170.170.170.170.206.17ns
      FLFP0.330.500.330.330.330.330.330.330.303.85ns
      'Beatrice'DDW0.000.000.170.500.830.500.500.670.403.28ns
      FLFP0.000.000.001.000.170.170.001.330.304.04ns
      'Manhattan'DDW0.000.000.670.500.830.170.830.830.402.53ns
      FLFP0.000.170.670.670.830.831.001.000.601.16ns
      z ns not significantly different from the null hypothesis that the number of flowers senesced/day do not differ.
      DDW = deionized, distilled water; FLFP = Floral Life floral preservative.

      Table 7. 

      Frequencies and Chi-square (χ2) tests for equal distribution (1:1:1:1:1:1:1:1:1; df = 8; χ2 = 15.507) of the mean number of flowers senesced/day/genotype in days 1−9 and the total number of flowers sensed over the postharvest experiment period (days 1−9) in dwarf and tall stature gladiolus genotypes tested with two treatment solutions applied as continuous vase solutions.