General & Historical Information
- Father of Floriculture in India – Dr. M.S. Randhawa
- National Flower of India – Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)
- City known as “Floral Capital of India” – Bengaluru (Karnataka)
- Greenhouse Capital of India – Pune (Maharashtra)
- Largest flower market in Asia – Mullick Ghat Flower Market, Kolkata
- India’s share in world floriculture trade – 0.6%
- First flower exported from India – Gladiolus
- Country leading in global flower exports – The Netherlands
Major Flower Crops & Common Names
|
Common Name |
Botanical Name |
Family |
|
Rose |
Rosa indica |
Rosaceae |
|
Marigold |
Tagetes erecta |
Asteraceae |
|
Jasmine |
Jasminum sambac |
Oleaceae |
|
Gladiolus |
Gladiolus grandiflorus |
Iridaceae |
|
Tuberose |
Polianthes tuberosa |
Amaryllidaceae |
|
Chrysanthemum |
Chrysanthemum indicum |
Asteraceae |
|
Gerbera |
Gerbera jamesonii |
Asteraceae |
|
Carnation |
Dianthus caryophyllus |
Caryophyllaceae |
States in Floriculture
- Tamil Nadu – Largest producer and exporter of loose flowers
- Karnataka – Largest area under floriculture
- Maharashtra – Major exporter of cut flowers
- West Bengal & Andhra Pradesh – Important for marigold and tuberose
Classification
- Loose Flowers: Marigold, Jasmine, Chrysanthemum, Tuberose, Crossandra
- Cut Flowers: Rose, Gladiolus, Carnation, Gerbera, Orchids, Anthurium
Propagation Methods
|
Crop |
Propagation Method |
|
Rose |
T-budding, cutting |
|
Marigold |
Seeds |
|
Chrysanthemum |
Terminal cuttings |
|
Tuberose |
Bulbs |
|
Gladiolus |
Corms |
|
Jasmine |
Semi-hardwood cuttings |
|
Gerbera |
Suckers, tissue culture |
Photoperiodic & Physiological Facts
|
Crop |
Photoperiodic Response |
|
Chrysanthemum |
Short-day plant |
|
Gladiolus |
Long-day plant |
|
Tuberose |
Day-neutral |
|
Rose |
Day-neutral |
- Florigen – Hormone responsible for flowering
- Optimal pH for floriculture crops – 6.0–6.5
- Ideal temperature for roses – 20–28°C
- Common rooting hormone – IBA (Indole-3-butyric acid)
Varieties of Importance
|
Crop |
Famous Variety |
|
Marigold |
Pusa Narangi Gainda |
|
Tuberose |
Prajwal |
|
Gladiolus |
Friendship, Snow Princess |
|
Rose |
Gladiator, Black Beauty |
|
Gerbera |
Ruby Red, Sun Spot |
Common Pests & Diseases
|
Crop |
Common Pests |
Major Diseases |
|
Rose |
Aphids |
Black spot, Powdery mildew |
|
Chrysanthemum |
Leaf miner |
Leaf spot |
|
Marigold |
Thrips, Aphids |
Alternaria leaf spot |
|
Tuberose |
Bud borer |
Stem rot |
Post-Harvest & Storage
- Ideal temperature for storing cut flowers – 2–4°C
- Shelf life of rose – 7–10 days (cold storage)
- Common preservative – Sucrose + Citric acid + 8-HQC
- Packing for export – Corrugated fiberboard boxes
Economic Importance
- Floriculture contributes to employment, foreign exchange, and tourism
- Rose – “King of Flowers”
- Lily – “Queen of Bulbous Flowers”
- Jasmine – used in perfume industry
- Marigold – used for garland and worship
- Gerbera – popular for cut flower export
Floriculture Institutions
|
Institute |
Location |
Focus |
|
ICAR–Directorate of Floricultural Research |
Pune |
Floriculture research & innovation |
|
IARI, Division of Floriculture & Landscaping |
New Delhi |
Crop improvement & landscape design |
|
IIHR |
Bengaluru |
Protected cultivation & export quality flowers |
Special and Miscellaneous Facts
- Pigment responsible for red flower color – Anthocyanin
- Ethylene – causes flower wilting and senescence
- Chemical to delay senescence – Silver thiosulphate (STS)
- Jasmine oil extracted by – Solvent extraction
- Marigold has nematode-suppressing (allelopathic) properties
- Calendula (Calendula officinalis) – medicinal and ornamental use
- Common filler plants – Gypsophila, Ferns
- International Flower Day – October 21
- ICAR–DFR established in 2007 (Pune)
- Floriculture is a branch of Ornamental Horticulture
