Effect of Different Packaging Films and Cold Storage Durations on Keeping Quality of Gladiolus Cut Spikes

The effect of different packaging films and cold storage durations (5, 10 and 15 day) at 6–10°C temperature on flower quality of gladiolus cut spikes cv. Peater Pears was investigated. Among different packaging films (cellophane, polypropylene, newspaper, butter paper, brown paper and plastic coated brown paper), polypropylene and plastic coated paper packaging proved promising in augmenting the keeping quality of cut spikes. The keeping quality of unpackaged cold stored cut spikes was highly deteriorated and decreased with increase in storage duration. Polypropylene or plastic coated paper packaged and cold cut spikes recorded maximum water uptake with improved per cent bud opening per spike and maximum number of open florets at a time per spike as compared to the other packaging films and unpackaged stored cut spikes. Polypropylene packaging, further improved floret diameter, tepal length as well as width. Anthocyanins and carotenes pigments were also well retained in the tepals of polypropylene and plastic coated paper packaged cold stored spikes. Cold storage of spikes for 10 day with polypropylene packaging maintained good keeping quality with improved floret opening, floret size and tepal colour. Thus, gladiolus spikes can be stored up to 10 day in modified atmosphere packaging with polypropylene (60 u) film.