DHIMAN, S.R.KHARAYAT, SHALLEY2016-11-222016-11-22201548344http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/87056Abstract The studies on “Effect of planting dates on loose flower production in different genotypes of chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelev)” were carried out at experimental farm of the Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP) during 2014. The investigation was carried out on fourteen genotypes, i.e., ‘Surf’, ‘Ajay’, ‘Purnima’, ‘Shyama’, ‘Solan Shringar’, ‘Little Pink’, ‘UHFSChr-3’, ‘UHFSChr-8’, ‘UHFSChr-20’, ‘UHFSChr-36’, ‘UHFSChr-83’, ‘PAU-3’, ‘E-85’ and ‘E-87’ planted on three dates (April 29, May 22 and June 20) in order to find out the optimum planting time for different genotypes to get maximum loose flower yield. Maximum plant height was recorded in case of ‘PAU-3’ (103.64 cm) whereas, maximum length of side was recorded in genotype ‘Purnima’ (91.88cm), when planted on April 29. Earliest flowering (91.44 days) was observed in genotype ‘PAU-3’ planted on June 20. The highest number of flowers per stem (69.58) and per plant (305.97) was produced by genotype ‘Ajay’ planted on April 29. Maximum fresh flower weight was recorded in case of ‘Purnima’ (6.56 g) followed by ‘Surf’ (6.55 g) whereas maximum fresh flower weight per plant was observed in ‘Surf’ (1280.73 g) in April 29 planting. Therefore, the optimum planting time for obtaining maximum yield of loose flowers of genotypes like; ‘Surf’, ‘Ajay’, ‘Purnima’, ‘UHFSChr-8’ and ‘UHFSChr-36’ was found to be April 29. The genotypes, ‘Shyama’ and ‘Solan Shringar’ could be planted from April 29 to May 22 without significant reduction in yield. Other genotypes, like; ‘Little Pink’, ‘UHFSChr3’, ‘UHFSChr-20’, ‘PAU-3’, ‘E-85’ and ‘E-87’ could be planted from April 29 to June 20 without significant reduction in yield. It can also be concluded that for loose flowers of white colour, genotypes, ‘Surf’ and ‘Solan Shringar’ ; for yellow colour, ‘UHFSChr-8’; for red purple colour, ‘Shyama’ and for grey red colour, ‘E-87’ are suitable.enThesis