Effect of Different Media on Some Growth, Flowering and Biochemical Parameters of Two Cultivars of Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus L.) under Soilless Conditions

This experiment was conducted to study the effect of cocopeat: perlite medium with three ratios (v/v) (1:1, 3:1 and 1:3) on some vegetative, flowering and biochemical parameters of two gladiolus cultivars (Strong and White) under soilless conditions in 2016. Data indicated that most vegetative parameters expressed as plant height, leaf number and leaf area, flowering parameter such as spike emergence, spike diameter, spike length and number of florets per spike and biochemical parameters like chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, soluble sugars and macronutrient uptake N, P and K (%) in leaf were significantly affected in cultivars, media and their interaction. As the results showed, there was a significant interaction between cultivars and media in plant height and dry weight of florets where the higher plant was obtained in white cultivar and cocopeat: perlite with ratio 1:3, while higher dry weight of florets in strong cultivar and cocopeat: perlite with ratio 1:3. All of the parameters studied showed significant increase in the treatment containing coco peat: perlite with ratio 1:3 in both cultivars.