Evaluation of marigold genotypes under hill zone of Karnataka

African marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) is one of the important commercial flowers of India and being grown for its spectacular flowers, brilliant colours, delightful appearance, myriads of sizes, shapes, forms etc. It belongs to the family Asteraceae (2n=24). It is not a native of Africa. Its origin is Central to Southern America especially Mexico, from there it reached to Spain and became popular by the name 'Rose of Indies'. In sixteenth century this plant was reintroduced in the Europe under the name, Flos Africonus by Emperor Charls V who launched an expedition to free Tunis from the Moors where it was naturalized in Algerian coast. It continued to be so called up to the eighteenth century, although it was correctly figured as Plantas Tagetas indica in Fuch's Herbal of 1542. Around 56 species contributes to the genus Tagetes (Soule, 1993). The name Tagetes was given after 'Tages' a demigod known for his beauty. In general marigold word is synonymous to 'anxiety', 'despair' or particularly gives a sense of grief. Another well known type of marigold i.e. French marigold from Mexico followed a similar route of that of African type.