Abstract:
The present experiments were carried out during the academic years 2013-14 and 2014-15 at Department of Horticulture, Post Graduate Institute, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola to find out suitable desiccant for drying, drying temperature in cabinet oven dryer, suitable time in microwave oven and freeze drying time for Dutch roses. The stem length of each selected cut flower was kept at a uniform length of 10 cm. The flowers were kept in trays with and without embedding in silica gel and dried as per treatments during both the years and data analyzed statistically. Visual quality parameters were used for recording the best treatments and used for storage studies. Embedded drying in silicagel scored maximum points for colour at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and180 days during storage whereas minimum score was recorded by D
4 i.e (-80
0C) for 12 hours in cryo preservation and kept for 7 days at -20
0C. Tropical Amazon an orange colored variety scored maximum points whereas Bordo scored minimum points for the same. The interaction of D
4C
2 scored maximum points for colour during storage followed by D
1C
3 and D
2C
1. With respect to
damage of flowers during storage at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and180 days treatment D4 scored least points and maximum damage by pests and diseases. As regards the cultivars Tropical Amazon dried by embedding in silica gel recorded maximum score during storage up to 180 days in room temperature.