Standardization of drying techniques for chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelev cv. Button type Local) flowers

Studies were conducted to standardize drying techniques for chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelev.cv. Button Type Local) flowers for better display quality of dry flowers in three separate experiments. Quality parameters like colour, texture, shape and over all acceptability were assessed by means of sensory evaluation by a panel of judges who scored on A five point scale. Among different methods of drying microwave oven drying with silica gel as medium recorded maximum score of 4.06 and 4.02 in terms of texture and shape, respectively. However colour and over all acceptability was maximum in oven drying with white sand as embedding medium (4.05 and 4.04 respectively). Best results in terms of display quality were obtained when flowers were dried at 80 percent micro power level for 120 seconds. Overall acceptability of flowers was significantly better when flowers were treated with 400 ppm citric acid through vacuum infiltration.