United States

Department of

Agriculture

Agricultural 

Marketing

Service

Fruit and

Vegetable

Division

Fresh

Products

Branch

United States Standards

for Grades of

Gladiolus Corms (Bulbs)

Effective April 5, 1982

(Reprinted - January 1997)
 Compliance with the provisions of these standards shall not excuse failure to comply with provisions of applicable 1

Federal or State laws.

1

United States Standards for Grades of Gladiolus Corms (Bulbs) 1

51.4240 General.

51.4241 Grades.

51.4242 Size.

51.4243 Tolerances.

51.4244 Application of Tolerances.

51.4245 Sample of Grade and Size Determination.

51.4246 Definitions.

51.4247 Classification of Defects.

§51.4240 General.

These standards apply to corms (bulbs) of the genus Gladiolus characteristically flattened in

shape, consisting of solid corms (bulbs) propagated by a new corm which grows on top of the old

corm (bulb) or by cormels (bulblets) which form between the old and new corms. (See Figure I)

§51.4241 Grades.

(a) "U.S. Fancy" consists of gladiolus corms which meet the following requirements:

(1) Basic requirements:

 (i) Mature and well cured;

 (ii) Well filled;

 (iii) Clean; and,

 (iv) Well trimmed.

(2) Free from:

 (i) Mold;

 (ii) Shattered corms;

 (iii) Thrips;

 (iv) Freezing;

 (v) Nut sedge;

 (vi) Grass roots;

 (vii) Rogues; and,

 (viii) Decay.

(3) Free from damage by any means.

(4) Size. See §51.4242

(5) Tolerances. See §51.4243

(b) "U.S. No. 1" consists of gladiolus corms which meet the requirements of U.S. Fancy, except

for increased tolerances specified in §51.4243.

(c) "U.S. Fancy Mixture" consists of gladiolus corms which meet the requirements of U.S. Fancy,
2

except for rogues.

(d) "U.S. No. 1 Mixture" consists of gladiolus corms which meet the requirements of U.S. No. 1,

except for rogues. 

§51.4242 Size. 

(a) The size of corms may be specified in connection with the grade in terms of minimum

circumference, maximum circumference, minimum diameter, maximum diameter, or in accordance

with one of the size designations given in Table I.

(b) Circumference or diameter means the greatest dimension of the corm at right angles to a line

running from the stem to the center of the basal portion.

TABLE I

Size

Designation

Diameter Circumference

Minimum Maximum Minimum Maximum

Inches Inches centimeters centimeters

Jumbo............ Over 1-3/4... ............. Over 14......

1................ 1-1/2........ 1-3/4........ 12........... 14

2................ 1-1/4........ 1-1/2........ 10........... 12

3................ 1............ 1-1/4........ 8............ 10

4................ 3/4.......... 1............ 6............ 8

5................ 1/2.......... 3/4.......... 4............ 6

6................ 1/4.......... 1/2.......... 2............ 4

7................ ............. Under 1/4.... ............. Under 2

Large............ 1-1/4........ 1-3/4........ 10........... 14

Medium........... 3/4.......... 1-1/4........ 6............ 10

Small............ 1/4.......... 3/4.......... 2............ 6

§51.4243 Tolerances.

In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, the tolerances, by count,

given in Table II shall be permitted in any lot.
3

Table II

U.S. Fancy U.S. No. 1

(percent) (percent)

 Total defects....... 6..................... 10

Included in total defects:

 Internal defects..... 2..................... 3

 Rogues............... 2..................... 4

 Thirps............... 1..................... 1

 Nut sedge, grass roots, 1/2 of 1.............. 1/2 of 1

 freezing, and decay

Not more than 10 percent of the corms in any lot may fail to meet a specified size, including

therein not more than 5 percent for corms which fail to meet the specified minimum circumference

or diameter. 

§51.4244 Application of tolerances.

The contents of individual packages in the lot, based on sample inspection, are subject to the

following limitations: Provided, That the averages for the entire lot are within the tolerances

specified for the grade:

(a) Individual samples may contain not more than double the tolerance specified.

(b) One defective and one off-size specimen may be permitted in any package.

(c) Packages containing 10 specimens or less are not restricted as to the percentage of defects,

except not more than one specimen which is affected by decay or otherwise seriously damaged

and one off-size specimen may be permitted in any package.

§51.4245 Sample for grade and size determination.

Each sample shall consist of 50 corms, except when individual packages contain less than 50

corms the sample shall be the individual package.

§51.4246 Definitions.

"Mature and well cured" means corm is firm with a well-healed base scar and dry neck.

"Well filled" means compact and plump.

"Clean" means practically free from dirt and other foreign material.

"Fairly clean" means not materially caked with dirt or materially stained.

"Well trimmed" means tops are not more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) in length. New stem growth is not

considered when determining trim.

"Fairly well trimmed" means tops are not more than 2 inches (5.1 cm) in length. New stem growth

is not considered when determining trim.

"Rogues" means a distinctly different cultivars from that labeled for the entire lot. Corms of

different cultivars usually vary in conformation and color.

"Shriveled" means a marked change in form, such as being shrunken, drawn or wrinkled.

"Soft" means gives readily to moderate pressure.

"Damage" means any specific defect described in §51.4247 -- Table III; or an equally
4

objectionable variation of any one of these defects, any other defect, or any combination of

defects which materially detracts from the marketing quality of the corm.

"Serious damage" means any specific defect described in §51.4247 -- Table III; or an equally

objectionable variation of any one of these defects, any other defect, or any combination of

defects which seriously detracts from the marketing quality of the corm.

"Permanent defects" means defects which are not subject to change during shipment or storage,

such as: cleanness, shape, trim.

"Condition defects" means defects which are subject to change during shipment or storage, such

as: shriveling, softness, decay.

§51.4247 Classification of defects.

TABLE III

Defects Damage Serious damage

Bacterial spot.................. Aggregating more than 3/8 inch 

(.9 cm) in diameter on a corm 1 

inch (2.5 cm) in diameter and 

correspondingly lesser or greater

areas on smaller or larger corms.

Discoloration.................. Aggregating more than 3/8 inch 

(.9 cm) in diameter on a corm 1 

inch (2.5 cm) in diameter and 

correspondingly lesser or greater

areas on smaller or larger corms.

Cuts.......................... Aggregating more than 1/2 inch (1.3

cm) in length and 1/8 inch (.3 cm), in

depth on a corm 1 inch (2.5 cm) in

diameter, and correspondingly

lesser or greater areas on smaller

or larger corms.

Bruises....................... Aggregating more than 3/4 inch 

(1.9 cm) in diameter and the area

being soft or indented on a corm

1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter and 

correspondingly lesser or greater

areas on smaller or larger corms.

Thirps........................ ........................................ When any feeding on the corm

is evident or when thirps are

present.

Nut sedge..................... ........................................ When present or penetrates the 

corm surface.

Grass roots................... ........................................ When penetrating the corm

surface.
5

Mold.......................... ........................................ When affecting the incipient root

system (living tissue) or when

penetrates below the epidermis.

Shattered..................... ........................................ When corms are cracked, crushed,

or split.

Freezing...................... ........................................ When corm is frozen or shows any

amount of brown discoloration or

is soft following freezing.

Decay......................... ........................................ Soft, mushy or mummified

condition or disintegration or

breakdown of the tissue of the

corm.
6