Tuberose Area Under Cultivation The chief centres of its commercial production, in India, are: Devanahalli, Tumkur, Kolar, Belgaum and Mysore (Karnataka); Pune, Nashik, Ahmednagar and Thane districts (Maharashtra); Guwahati and Johrat (Assam); Udaipur, Ajmer and Jaipur (Rajasthan); Navsari and Valsad (Gujarat); Coimbatore and Madurai districts (Tamil Nadu); East Godavari and Guntur (Andhra Pradesh) and Midnapur district (West Bengal).
Botanical Name :- Polianthes tuberosa Family :- Amaryllidaceae Plant Discription :It is a half hardy,herbaceous perennial with fibrous roots, 60 to 120 cm high, having a bulb like tuberous rootstock and fleshy leaves linear , grass like foliage. The foliage is narrow at the base and wider at the top and is arranged in a rosette at the base.
Centre of Origin :- Mexico Pollination System :- Cross pollinated Chromosome No. :- 2n=30
Tuberose Diseases Stem Rot The disease symptoms are preceded by the appearance of prominent spots of loose green colour due to rotting which extend and cover the entire leaf. The infected leaves get detached from the plant. More or less round sclerotic, brown spots are formed on and around the infected leaf. As a result, the infected plant becomes weak and unproductive. Control: The disease can be controlled by soil application of Brassicol (20%) @ 30kg/hectare.
Botrytis Spot and Blight (Botrytis elliptic) The disease appears during the rainy season. Infected flowers show dark brown spots and ultimately the entire inflorescence dries up. The infection also occurs on the leaves and stalks. Control: Spraying the plants with Carbendazim @2g/litre of water effectively controls the disease. The treatment should be repeated at 15 days interval.
Sclerotial Wilt (Sclerotium rolfsii) : The initial symptom of this disease is flaccidity and drooping of leaves. The leaves become yellow and dry up. The fungus mainly affects the roots and the infection gradually spreads upward through the tuber and collar portion of the stem. Both tubers and roots show rotting symptoms. Thick cottony growth of the fungus is visible on the rotten stem and on petioles at the soil level. Control: Drenching the soil with 0.3% Zineb is effective in controlling the disease.
Tuberose Harvesting In India tuberoses is cultivated for production of flower spikes and loose flowers on a commercial scale for the domestic market. Flowers are ready for harvest in about 3-3 1/2 months of planting. AugustSeptember is the peak period of flowering. For marketing of flower spikes, the tuberose is harvested by cutting the spikes from the base when 1-2 pairs of flowers open on the spike. Individual flowers which grow at the horizontal position on flowers stalk are picked in the early morning. The spikes are clipped by using a sharp knife/secateur that gives a clean cut, leaving about 4-6 basal portion of the scape so as not to damage the growing bulb.
Harvesting curing and storage of bulbs: Harvesting stage of tuberose bulb is important for storage of bulbs and their growth. The bulbs are harvested when the flowering is over and plant ceases to grow. At this stage, the old leaves become dry and bulbs are almost dormant. Irrigation is withheld and soil is allowed to dry before digging out the bulbs. After digging, the bulbs are lifted out; the bulblets are separated and used as seed stock for the next season. The bulbs are graded based on their size and are placed on shelves to dry or cure. The bulbs must be stored or have their position changed every few days to prevent fungal attack and rotting. Curing can also be done by tying the bulbs in bunches and hanging them on frames and walls.
Yield: Flowers production varies with cultivar and depends upon bulb size at planting time and density planting and cultural practices adopted. Tuberose planted at a spacing of 30 x 30cm with a plant population of 1,11,000 plants/ha yield about 90,000 marketable spikes and 1.8 lakhs flowering size bulbs.
Tuberose Intercultural Operations Weed Control The field should be kept clean by periodical weeding at monthly intervals. Manual weeding is generally practiced. Hoeing between plants at regular intervals is helpful in loosening the soil and uprooting weeds. Control of weeds by using chemicals is also found effective. Application of Alachlor @2.0kg/ha; Pendimenthalin @1.25kg/ha or Metachlor @2.0kg/ha significantly reduced the weed population.
Tuberose Irrigation Initially, irrigation is given immediately after planting in order to set them in the ground and to provide them with sufficient moisture for growth initiation. Subsequent irrigation is given, depending upon the prevailing weather conditions. Usually during summer (April-June), it should be irrigated at weekly intervals and during winters at 10 days intervals
Tuberose Manuring & Fertilization Tuberose is a gross feeder and responds well to the application of organic and inorganic manures. Apart from FYM (20 tonnes/ha), a fertilizer dose of 200 kg of N, 50 kg P 2O5 and 70 Kg K2O per hectare is recommended, of which 100 kg N and entire quantity of P & K is applied as a basal dose. The balance N is given in two split doses at thirty days interval. However under saline conditions, 77 kg of N, 51 kg P2O5 and 36 kg K2O per hectare is found to be effective.
Use of Growth Regulators: The application of CCC at 5000ppm and GA3 at 1000ppm induces early flowering, increased flowerstalk production and improves the quality of flowers.
Tuberose Pests Bud Borer (Helicoverpa armigera): This pest mainly damages flowers. Eggs are deposited singly on growing spikes. Eggs are deposited singly on growing spikes. Larvae bore into buds and flowers and feed on them by making holes. Control: Collection and destruction of damaged buds reduces the damage. Setting up of light traps helps to control population by attracting them. Sprays of Endosulphan 0.07% or Methyl Parathion 0.05% taken up at appearance of eggs on buds and tender foliage controls borer damage. Neem oil 1% also gives considerable protection by repelling various stages of pest.
Aphids: These are tiny insects, soft bodied, green, deep purple or black in colour. These usually occur in clusters and feed on flower buds and young leaves. Control: Spraying the infected plants with Malathion @0.1% at an interval of 15 days is effective.
Grasshoppers: These feed on young leaves and flower buds. Affected plants with damaged foliage and flowers lose their elegance, especially during rainy season. Control: Dusting the plants with 5% Cythione/DDT/Folidol dust may prevent the damage. Scraping of buds exposes egg masses to natural enemies. Netting prevents damage from hoppers to nurseries. Spraying of Quinalphos @0.05% or Malathion 0.1% or Carbaryl @0.2% protects foliage of newly transplanted crop.
Red Spider Mites: Mites thrive well under hot and dry conditions, usually on the undersides of the leaves, where these make webs, if allowed to continue. These are usually red or brown in colour and multiply fast. Mites suck sap, which results in the formation of yellow strips and streaks on the foliage. In due course of time, leaves become yellow, silvery or bronze and distorted. Control: Spraying with Kelthane @ 1.2% concentration is effective to control the mites.
Rodents: Rodents do considerable damage to tuberose plants in the field by making burrows. Control: Poison bait is quit helpful in checking rodent menace in the field. Commercial bait by the name, 'Roban' is available in the market and the same may be used effectively.
Thrips: Thrips feed on leaves, flower stalk and flowers. These suck the sap and damage the whole plant. Sometimes, these are associated with a contagious disease known as 'bunchy top', where the inflorescence is malformed. Control: Thrips can be controlled by spraying the plant with 0.1% Malathion
Weevils (Myllocerus sp): The weevils are nocturnal in habit and damaged shoots and leaves. Usually, they feed the edge of the leaves, producing a characteristic notched effect. Larvae feed on roots and tunnel into the bulbs. Control: Applying BHC dust (10%) in the soil before planting controls larvae.
Tuberose Post Harvest Technology Vase Life Just after removal, the lower end of the spike should be immersed in water for prolonging the life of spikes. The spikes are made ready by removing the unwanted leaves to minimise the transpiration O loss for sending to floral markets. Further, pulsing of spikes at low temperature (10 C), for about four hours with the ends immersed in water, is helpful in prolonging life of spikes to be sent to distant markets.
Grading The flower spikes are graded according to the stalk length, length of rachis, number of flowers per spike and weight of spike. Straight and strong stem of uniform length and uniform stage of development are preferred. Flowers should be free from bruises and diseases and pests. Florets are graded according to their sizes for loose flowers.
Packaging Loose flowers of single-flowered tuberose are packed in bamboo baskets covered with wet gunny bags. About 10-15 kg fresh flowers are packed in each basket and transported to the nearby wholesale market where they are sold by weight. The spikes are packed by wrapping them first in wet newsprint sheets and subsequently in corrugated sheets, making bundles of convenient sizes. Such bundles are finally packed in strong card boxes, which are quite handy.
Tuberose Planting Land Preparation The soil should be ploughed to a depth of 30-40 cm during January and exposed to sun for at least 15 days for killing weeds and insects. Well rotten FYM @20tonnes/ha is incorporated with the soil immediately after ploughing. The soil is brought to fine tilth by breaking the clods and removing the weeds. The field is laid out into pots of convenient sizes with irrigation channels and ridges and furrows.
Season of planting Under sub-tropical conditions, the bulbs are planted in Feb-April. Well-developed spindle-shaped bulbs, with diameter 1.56 cm and above forming at the outer periphery of the clump, are considered ideal for planting. Freshly harvested tuberose bulbs can be used for planting 4-5 weeks after harvesting. Planting fresh bulbs leads to profuse vegetative growth and poor flowering.
Spacing Recommended spacing for planting the bulbs is as followsState
Spacing (cm)
No. of bulbs/ha
Maharashtra
15x20
3,30,000
West Bengal
25x25
1,60,000
Karnataka
30x22.5
1,48,000
Uttar Pradesh
30x30
1,11,000
The depth of planting varies between 3.0-7.0 cm depending upon the diameter of bulb and the soil type. Planting is deeper in sandy soil as compared to clay soil. In sandy loam soil planting of bulbs is done at the depth of 6.0 cm. In general planting is done in such a way that the growing portion of the bulb is kept at the ground level.
Tuberose Propagation Bulbs Commercially tuberose is propagated by bulbs and division of bulbs. Selection of suitable bulbs is very important for successful cultivation. Spindle shaped bulbs free from diseases with average diameter of about 1.5 cm or above should be preferred for planting. Tuberose bulbs have a definite rest period after lifting them from soil. Dipping the bulbs in 4% solution of Thiourea can break the resting period.
Bulb Segments Propagation through mature bulbs is expensive, therefore, multiplication of growing stock can be done by division of bulbs. Large sized bulbs having 2.1 cm or more in diameter are suitable for planting purpose. The bulbs are cut into 2 to 3 vertical sections, each containing a bud and part of the basal plate. These sections are treated with fungicide and planted vertically in a rooting medium with their tips just showing above the surface. A moderately warm temperature should be maintained. New bulblets along with roots develop from the basal plate. At this stage, bulblets are transferred to the ground.
Tuberose Soil & Climate Soil: Well-drained loam and sandy loam soil, 45cm deep and having pH range from 6.5-7.5 are considered ideal for cultivation of tuberose. With better agronomical practices, tuberose can be grown successfully as a commercial crop under high saline-alkaline soil conditions. A place protected from strong winds is preferable.
Climate: Tuberose prefers to grow in an open sunny location, away from the shade of trees. It requires warm O and humid climate although flowering is profuse under mild climate. Under extremes of high (>40 C), or low temperatures the spike length and the quality of the flowers is severely affected. A temperature range from 20-30OC is considered to ideal for this crop.
Tuberose Varieties Cultivars
Varietal Characteristics
'Rajat Rekha'
It is a single flowered variety released by NBRI, Lucknow. The flowers have silvery white streaks along the middle of blade.
Shringar
It is a single flowered variety released by IIHR, Bangalore. The flower bud is attractive with slightly pinkish tinge. Its loose flowers are ideal for making garland while spikes can be used as cut flowers. Yield of loose flowers is about 15,000 kg/ha/yr. Shringar is preferred by farmers and industries due to its higher flower yield.
'Single Mexican'
It is a single flowered variety. Produces maximum flowers during October-December, which is considered as lean months for tuberose flowers yield.
Svarna Rekha
It is a double flowered variety released by NBRI, Lucknow. The flowers are double and the leaf margin is streaked with golden yellow.
Suvasini
It is a double flowered variety released by IIHR, Bangalore. It is a cross between 'Single' and 'Double'. This variety produces more flowers per spike. The spikes are best suited for cut flowers.