Evaluation of African Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) Varieties for Flower Yield and Xanthophyll Content

A field experiment was carried out at Jambuwadi Farm, Department of Horticulture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh in winter season during 2015. Ten varieties of afican marigold were evaluated. The experiment was conducted in RBD with three replications. There were significant differences among the varieties with respect to flower yield attributes and xanthophyll content yield. The result revealed that variety Ashwini recorded maximum weight of 10 flowers (63.60 g) and flower yield per plant (379.65 g). However, maximum number of flowers per plant (68.53) and flower yield per hectare (14.05 t ha-1) were recorded in Suvarna which was at par with Ashwini. Marigold Yellow registered maximum petal meal yield per kilogram fresh flowers (122.00 g) and petal meal yield per hectare (23.99 q) followed by Ashwini. Besides the above, Pusa Narangi Gainda was observed superior in xanthophyll content (17.36 mg/g petal meal) followed by Suvarna under south Saurastra region.