Tuberose cultivation practices, uses, variety, soil and climatic requirement, planting, manuring, harvesting and post harvest, and disease and insect control

1. Ornamental Plants
- TUBEROSE
Prepared by: Nischal Sapkota PHOTO 04/2021

2. Tuberose(Polianthes tuberosa)
Kingdom: Plantae
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta
Superdivision: Spermatophyta
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Subclass: Liliidae
Order: Liliiales
Family: Agavaceae
Genus: Polianthes
Species: tuberosa
Rajnigandha (रजनीगन्धा)

3. Short description
of Tuberose
• Native to Mexico.
• Half hardy, bulbous and perennial
plant.
• Has very special and selective position
due to prettiness, elegance and sweet
pleasant fragrance.
• Has great economic potential for cut
flower trade and essential oil.

4. Types & Varieties
Single
Semi-double
01
02
PHOTO 04/2021
Double flower
03

5. Single
• With one row of corolla
segments(fragrant). Ex:
Calcuttia Single, Mexican
Single(Promising variety), etc.
Semi-double
• With 2 to 3 rows of corolla segments.
Types & Varieties

6. Double flower
• Having more than 3 rows of
corolla segments. Ex: Calcuttia
Double, Rajat Rekha, Swarna
Rekha, Pearl, etc.
Types & Varieties
The growth and flowering of tuberose starts in
80-90 days after sprouting.

7. Uses
• Used as artistic garlands, floral ornaments, bouquets, button holes,
garden decoration, etc.
• Grown in pots, beds and borders.
• Used by perfume makers to extract essential oil for making perfumes.
• The bulbs of tuberose are considered diuretic and emetic.
• Its bulb’s paste is used by mixing with butter and turmeric for
removing acne or pimple.
• Its roots can be used as soap substitutes.

8. Edaphic and Climatic Requirement
A. Soil
• Very sensitive to wet-feet(root having over moisture).
• Should have plenty of sunlight.
• Soil pH of 6-7.5 is desirable with rich in organic matter.
• Wide range of soil but loamy and sandy loam having good aeration.

9. Edaphic and Climatic Requirement
B. Temperature
• Temperature range is 10-40° C, whereas optimum temperature is 20-30 °
C.
• Pre-plant storage at 10 ° C for 30 days will increase growth and
yield.
• Warm and humid climate having the temperature range of 20-35 ° C with
sunny situation is desirable.

10. Edaphic and Climatic Requirement
C. Light
• 14-16 hours of day length is desirable.

11. Planting
A. Plant materials
a. Seed propagation
b. Bulb/ Bulb Division
c. Offset/ bulb lets
d. Micro-propagation

12. Planting
A. Plant materials
a. Seed Propagation
• Done only in single type tuberose.
• Optimum temp. is 26° C for seed propagation and germination
takes place 10-15 days after sowing.
• Used mainly for breeding purpose and production of new lines.

13. Planting
B. Plant materials
b. Bulb/ Bulb Division
• Bulb of size greater than 2cm in
diameter are cut into 2-3 vertical
sections each containing a bud and
treated with fungicide.
• Mature bulb of at least 3 years should
be selected.

14. Planting
B. Plant materials
c. Offsets/ bulb lets
• Less than 2cm diameter sized bulb can be selected for
propagation but flower quality will not be desirable.
d. Micropropagation
• Clonal micropropagation through tissue culture for
rapid and large scale multiplication by radial cutting
of bulb segments (9-10 bulb pieces) and then kept in
media.
• Requires well equipped laboratories and scientists.

15. Planting
Bulb Selection and Planting Dimensions
• Dig the bulbs and dry them in shade for 1 months.
• 2-3 bulbs per hill with each bulb of 1.5-2 cm or less than 2cm
in diameter size.
• Planting should be done at spacing of 20 x 25cm or 20 x 20cm,
depending upon various factors.
• The depth of sowing should be at 4-7cm.

16. Land preparation,Manuring and
Fertilizer Application
• Deep ploughing and 50 metric ton per hectare of well decomposed
FYM is incorporated during land preparation.
• FYM must be incorporated 1 months prior before planting.
• 20:40:60 kg NPK per 1000 sq. m. or 20g of NPK per sq. m. is used.

17. Intercultural Operations of Tuberose
B. Weed Control
A. Irrigation
• Field should not be irrigated before sprouting
and root formation stage.
• Irrigation can be done twice a week in summer
and once in winter months.
• Should be done at regular intervals.
• Can be done manually or by using chemical
weedicide such as pre-plant application of
Atrazine @3kg/ha.

18. Intercultural Operations
A. Irrigation
• Should be provided at weekly intervals.
• Ring-basin is the most suitable for roses.
B. Weed Control
• Followed by light irrigation, hoeing and weeding should be done
regularly.

19. Harvesting and Post harvesting
Harvesting Stage
• Harvested when first pair of floret are fully open (For table
decoration).
• Harvesting done with sharp knife and then spike are placed immediately
in cold water.
• The small clasping leaves should be retained for a longer life of the
flower.
Harvesting time
• The cooler hour of the day i.e. in the evening (for spike or loose
flowers).

20. Harvesting and Post harvesting
Post-harvest handling and Packaging of flowers
• Loose flowers are packed in bamboo baskets.
• Spikes are bundled at 100 in numbers and wrapped in newspaper or
tissue papers or polythene sheets. Then are kept in corrugated
cardboard boxes (carton) for distant market.
Vase Life
• Sucrose and 8-HQC containing preservative solution used for improving
the opening of flowers and enhancing the vase life.

21. Harvesting and Post harvesting
Harvesting and Storage of Bulbs
• Tuberose reaches maturity when flowering is over and plant growth
ceases.
• After then soil should be removed and bulb should be collected.
• Bulb should be stored in coo, dry and shady place and mixed time to
time.
• Bulb are often left undisturbed and replanting is done after 3 years.

22. Diseases and their control
B. Botryis spot (Fungi-borne disease)
A. Stem rot (Fungi-borne disease)
Control Measures:
• Control methods include use of chemicals, isolation of
diseased plants, maintenance of sanitation in the farm,
etc.
C. Flower bud rot (Bacterial disease)

23. Insects and their control
B. Weevil
A. Grass hopper
Control Measures:
• Control methods include sanitation, use of chemical and
organic pesticides/ insecticides, use of resistant
varieties, etc.
C. Aphids D. Thrips E. Root knot
Nematode

24. “The tuberose flower
seems to linger every
night, just to bloom
in midst of darkness
and entice every soul
by it's redolence.
- Soul beats
PHOTO 04/2021