1Department of Processing and Food Engineering, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141 004, India.
2Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141 004, India.
*Corresponding author, E-mail: kushal_flori@rediffmail.com
Studies were conducted on the effect of pre-storage pulsing of gladiolus spikes with sucrose (20 percent)+Al2(SO4)3.16H2O (400 ppm), on storage in polypropylene (PP) sleeves of 100 gauge (25 µ thickness. PP packages maintained modified atmospheres with low levels of O2 and high levels of CO2 throughout the duration of the storage. Pre-storage pulsing treatment significantly improved post-storage vase life of the spikes, per cent opening of florets, floret size and number of florets opening at one time and also decreased per cent loss of weight of spikes in storage. The utility of dry refrigerated storage of spikes on long-term shipment has been discussed.
Gladiolus, modified atmosphere storage, pulsing
