Effect of chemicals as pre-drying treatments on production of quality dry flowers in carnation

Various chemical pretreatments have been tried on carnation flowers during the year 2014 at College of Horticulture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad to improve the quality of flowers after drying. Effects of seven pre drying chemical treatments, viz., T₁-Soaking in sodium bisulphite (1%) solution for 30 min, T₂-Soaking in sodium bisulphite (2%) solution for 30 min, T₃-Soaking in magnesium chloride (5%) solution for 5 h, T₄-Soaking in magnesium chloride (10%) solution for 5 h, T₅-Soaking in magnesium sulphate (5%) solution for 4 h, T₆-Soaking in magnesium sulphate (10%) solution for 4 h and T₇-Control (Soaking in distilled water for 30 min) were tested on the flowers of carnation cv. Harvey in Completely Randomized Design with four replications. Pretreated flowers were embedded in borax + silica gel (1: 1, v/v) mixture and dried in hot air oven at 55± 1°C. The results showed non significant differences in carnation dry flower weight, dry flower diameter, percent moisture loss and time taken to dry. Maximum score for colour (3.17) shape (2.67), texture (3.25), brittleness (3.42), overall acceptability (3.70) and total carotenoid content (80.72 μg/g) was recorded with the pre drying treatment of magnesium chloride (10%) for 5 h. Least score for colour (1.95), shape (1.70), texture (1.52), overall acceptability (0.20) and total carotenoid content (17.86 μg/g) was observed with flowers treated with sodium bisulphite (2%) for 30 min (0.10). Least score for brittleness was observed when flowers of cv. Harvey treated with distilled water for 30 min (1.57) and was on par when flowers of cv. Harvey treated with sodium bisulphite (2%) for 30 min (1.77).