Mohammad Hossein Azimi - Ornamental Plants Research Center (OPRC), Horticulture Sciences Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Mahallat, Iran.

Purpose: The aims of this research were to collect reliable information about economic traits, introducing superior genotypes for production, exportation and breeding programs in new hybrids of gladiolus. Research Method: 48 promising genotypes with 4 parents of gladiolus evaluated on the basis of a randomized complete block design in three replications. The Research was conducted in Ornamental Plants Research Center in Mahallat from 2017-2018. Main findings: The results showed that the highest number of florets was observed in OPRC16 (19.0 florets) and the lowest in OPRC412, OPRC413, and OPRC99 (8.00 florets). The highest floret width of 12.00 cm was related to OPRC16 and the lowest of 7.00 cm to OPRC712. The longest spike was 71.00 cm observed in OPRC16 and the shortest was 33.00 cm observed in OPRC411. OPRC311 and OPRC61 exhibited the highest and lowest plant height of 210 and 132 cm, respectively.  It was found that the flowers of the new hybrids were almost whitish in color. It was also indicated that the diversity in the traits was mostly related to the genetic factors and the environment was less influential on them. According to the North American Gladiolus Council, the length of the cut branch (spike and branch length) of all hybrids (48 hybrids) and the parents P1, P2, and P3 were categorized in the fantasy group. The hybrids that were placed in the fantasy group in terms of the spike length were more marketable. Research limitations: No limitations were founded. Originality/Value: The results revealed high diversity among the hybrids and parents in traits. Therefore, hybrids that are superior (fantasy group) in these commercial traits can be introduced as new cultivars.

Cut branch, Floret, Hybrid, Spike