1Department of Horticulture,
2Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Agriculture, GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand – 263 145, India
3Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Regional Station, Mukteshwar, Nainital, Uttarakhand -263 138, India
*E mail: deeena.gbpant@gamil.com
Online published on 21 August, 2014.
An investigation was conducted for evaluation of suitability of different drying media for drying of chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflorum Tzevlev.) flowers at different temperatures and to standardize protocol for drying. Fully opened flowers with one cm stalk were embedded in three drying media viz., sand, silica gel and saw dust and were dried in a mechanically dehydrator at different temperatures i.e. 40, 50, 60 and 70°C for a duration of 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 hrs. Results indicated that although maximum moisture loss (78.48%) was observed in silica gel as drying media but the reduction of flower diameter (1.6 cm) was also highest in the same treatment. Sand was rated to be a better medium than silica gel and saw dust for drying of chrysanthemum flowers. Further, it took 6 hrs at 50°C for acceptable drying of flowers in sand as compared to longer durations of time required by using other two media. Therefore, the protocol for drying of chrysanthemum flowers using sand as a drying media at 50°C for 6 hrs was standardized.
Chrysanthemum flowers, sand, silica gel, saw dust, mechanical dehydrator
