Evaluation of African Marigold (Tegetes erecta L.) Genotypes under Rain Shelter and Open Field Conditions at Godawari, Lalitpur

Abstract

The growing season of African Marigold coincides with the monsoon season bringing down the quality and post-harvest life of flowers. This study evaluated nine African Marigold Genotypes-Karma‑111 Orange, Mayan Orange, Oriental Orange, Karma‑444 Orange, Karma‑555 Orange, Calcuttia Orange, Sonata, Karma‑888 Orange, and Thai—under both open field and rain shelter conditions at the Floriculture Development Centre, Godawari, using a two‑factor factorial RCBD with three replications. Vegetative, floral, yield, and post‑harvest attributes were measured. Under rain shelters, Karma‑555 Orange produced the tallest plants (126.41 cm) and the most flowers per plant (282.25), while Karma‑111 had the thickest stems (22.84 cm). Calcuttia Orange under shelter showed the widest canopy (99.04 cm) and the longest garland post‑harvest life (8.22 days). In open field, Sonata flowered the earliest (28.08 days to bud, 53.83 days to flower) and achieved the highest yield per plant (5991.6 g), and Karma‑444 produced the largest florets (105.74 cm) with the heaviest fresh flowers (37.69 g). No significant genotype × environment interaction was observed for stem diameter, number of flowers per garland, or garland fresh weight. Rain shelters generally improved plant height (87.80 cm) and flower count (196.6 per plant). Calcuttia Orange had the longest post-harvest life while Karma-111 had the shortest and Garlands from rain shelter-grown flowers lasted longer than open field. Considering flower quality, yield, and storage life, Karma‑555 and Calcuttia Orange under shelter are recommended; Sonata and Mayan Orange suit open‑field conditions due to their early flowering and high yield.