Growth responses of the Gladiolus as influenced by storage temperatures

The gladiolus, one of the most popular ornamental bulbous plants, is a tender perennial and will not survive if exposed to severe winter weather. The corms must be removed from the garden in the fall and stored until planting time in the spring. The conditions to which the corms are subjected during storage determine to a large extent the growth responses the following season. Consequently, this phase of gladiolus culture is of paramount importance. The present knowledge regarding proper storage temperatures is far from comprehensive. Further study is necessary, and the following investigation concerned with the physiology, morphology and growth responses of gladiolus corms, is designed to contribute additional information relative to the problem of storage temperatures