Evaluation of mycelium foam packaging for quality preservation of Jasminum sambac (L.) Aiton during long-distance transport

The floriculture industry faces increasing pressure to adopt sustainable packaging solutions while maintaining product quality during long-distance transportation. This study evaluated 4 packaging materials-expanded polystyrene (EPS), mycelium foam, coir-lined carton and aluminium foil-lined carton-for preserving Jasminum sambac (L.) Aiton flowers under ice gel conditions (4-6 °C) over 48 hr. Visual, physiological and biochemical parameters were assessed using a completely randomized design (CRD) with 5 replications. Mycelium foam packaging demonstrated consistently higher performance across all quality metrics: highest freshness retention (71.54 % at 48 hr vs. 63.43 % for EPS), colour preservation (77.82 % vs. 68.71 %), extended shelf life (4.12 vs. 3.83 days) and superior moisture retention (49.91 % vs. 40.43 %). Physiological parameters confirmed mycelium superiority with minimum physiological loss in weight (3.59 % vs. 4.65 % for EPS). Biochemical analysis revealed maximum total carbohydrate retention (63.50 mg/g vs. 58.54 mg/g in EPS) and phenolic content (39.94 mg/g vs. 28.26 mg/g in EPS) at 48 hr, indicating suppressed respiration and enhanced antioxidant capacity. The porous hygroscopic structure of mycelium foam provided optimal humidity regulation and thermal buffering (0.04 W/m·K) while offering complete biodegradability within 30-45 days. This study demonstrates that mycelium foam can serve as an effective bio-based alternative to conventional EPS packaging for jasmine flower export, simultaneously enhancing post-harvest quality and environmental sustainability.