Journal of Horticultural Sciences

M. Jawaharlal ¹, M. Visalakshi ¹, S. Cintu ¹, M. Ganga ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore – 641003, IN

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, during 2009-2010 to standardize processing techniques for dried flower production. Foliage of silver oak (Grevillea robusta), thuja (Thuja orientalis) and camellia (Camellia reticulata) was best preserved by glycerinization; leaves were soft and pliable, with lowest moisture and highest overall acceptability. In the case of fully-opened flowers in button-type chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum grandiflorum), gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii) and plumeria (Plumeria alba), a combination of sand and silica gel, and microwave-oven embedded method was found to be suitable for drying, with high overall acceptability. Dried pods of jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) and castanospermum (Castanospermum australe) were fully bleached by soaking overnight in 10% sodium hydroxide and subsequent treatment with 2% sodium hydroxide + 2.5% sodium silicate + 35% hydrogen peroxide. Bleached pods were given dye treatments where acrylic dyes showed good dyeing consistency, light fastness, wash fastness and rubbing fastness.

Keywords

Dry Flowers, Glycerinization, Desiccants, Bleaching, Dyeing.

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M. Jawaharlal ¹, S. P. Thamaraiselvi ¹, M. Ganga ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Horticultural College and Research Institute, TamilNadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore – 641 003, IN

Abstract

A study was conducted to standardize packaging technology for export of jasmine flowers. Experiments were laid out in FCRD in three replications, with 12 chemical treatments, and packing with unit packing boxes and thermocol boxes under gel-ice cold condition. Effects of various chemical treatments and their interaction with packaging were studied and observations were recorded on visual quality (freshness index, flower-opening index, colour retention index and fragrance score) of flowers and physiological parameters associated with post harvest quality of flowers. Export suitability of the package was also studied and Cost:Benefit ratio (CBR) worked out. Chemical treatment of flowers with 4% boric acid, packing in aluminum-foil lined boxes and further packaging in thermocol boxes under gel-ice cold condition was found to be significantly superior to Control, and recorded a shelf life of 42.88h. This package also recorded maximum freshness index (70 to 90%), minimum flower-opening index (10.5 to 50%) and maximum colour retention index (77.77 to 88.88%) of flowers. CBR was 1:2.5.

Keywords

Jasmine Flowers, J. sambac, Chemical Treatment, Packing, Packaging, Export Suitability.

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