Evaluation of Crossandra genotypes for growth, floral attributes and yield under Konkan agroclimatic conditions

The present investigation entitled “Evaluation of Crossandra (Crossandra infundibuliformis) genotypes for growth, floral attributes, and yield under Konkan agro-climatic conditions” was conducted at the Floriculture Farm, College of Horticulture, Dapoli, during the Kharif seasons of 2022–23 and 2023–24. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with two replications, comprising 15 genotypes including local types and standard checks, viz., Arka Kanaka (G₄), Arka Chenna (G₆), Arka Shreeya (G₉), and Arka Ambara (G₁₁). The objective was to identify suitable crossandra genotypes for growth, floral attributes, and yield performance under Konkan agro-climatic conditions. Marked variability was observed among the genotypes with respect to vegetative, floral and yield traits. The genotype G₈ (Jalgaon type 2) attained the maximum plant height (84.29 cm), whereas G₄ (Arka Kanaka) produced the highest number of branches (24.77). The maximum leaf area (34.87 cm²) was recorded in G₁₂ (Jalgaon type 3), while G₁₀ (Ladghar type 1) and G₆ (Arka Chenna) exhibited the highest plant spread in the east–west (26.35 cm) and north–south (30.93 cm) directions, respectively. With respect to flowering parameters, G₄ (Arka Kanaka) was the earliest to flower (71.55 days) and recorded the highest number of spikes per plant (42.75). The same genotype also registered the highest flower yield both on a per plant basis (237.42 g) and per plot basis (5.68 kg). In terms of floral quality, G₁₁ (Arka Ambara) produced the widest florets (2.17 cm), while G₄ (Arka Kanaka) recorded the longest vase life (8.30 days). Overall, the results clearly indicated that G₄ (Arka Kanaka) outperformed other genotypes in terms of growth, floral attributes, yield, and post-harvest quality, thereby establishing its superiority under Konkan agro-climatic conditions.