EFFECT OF PACKAGING MATERIAL AND STORAGE ON CERTAIN POSTHARVEST ATTRIBUTES IN LOOSE FLOWER OF TUBEROSE (POLIANTHES TUBEROSA) CULTIVAR ARKA PRAJAL

Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa Linn.) which is known as Rajanigandha in Hindi is an important commercial loose flower crop because of its fragrant white flowers which can be utilized in many ways.Tuberose loose flowers retain their freshness only for one to two days under ordinary condition.Packaging technology concentrated on longer period of storage of loose flowers, would certainly be benefited.In view of rapidly increasing demand of loose flowers of tuberose and need for extending the postharvest quality, the present investigation was carried out in order to study the response of packaging materials viz.woven bag, high density polyethylene (HDPE) 51 micron thickness bag, low density polyethylene (LDPF) 25 micron thickness bag, muslin cloth bag and bamboo basket (control, without packaging) and two storage conditions i.e., ambient condition (22 1 o C temp.) and cold storage (or low temperature) condition (5 1 o C temp.) and 85-95% relative humidity) on certain self-life quality attributes of loose flowers of Single petalled tuberose cv.Arka Prajwal.Fully developed unopened florets (loose flowers) were harvested in the early morning hours from growing spikes.It was observed that packaging and storage condition significantly influenced all studied parameters.Among all treatments, loose flowers packed in HDPE 51-micron thickness bag and stored under cold storage condition recorded the maximum flower diameter (8.99 mm), flower opening index (77.85%),colour (whiteness) index (89.13%)and shelf life (6.00day).In control treatment the above parameters recorded were 6.98 mm, 50.00%, 54.10% and 3.50 day, respectively.Under ambient condition, the maximum flower diameter (8.08 mm), flower opening index (66.00%),colour index (91.85%)and shelf life (4.00day) of loose flowers were recorded with HDPE 51-micron thickness bag packaging.In control treatment the above said parameters were recorded 6.73 mm, 50.00%, 63.77% and 1.50 day, respectively.