Standardization of wrapping and packaging techniques to enhance the vase life of tuberose spikes

Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa) is one of the most important loose flowers as well as cut flower crops in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world including india. It belongs to the family Agavaceae and originated in Mexico. It is a perennial herbaceous plant usually produces flowering spikes almost round the year, but it blooms profusely during summer and rainy seasons. Under normal condition in the market, tuberose flowers do not retain for more than a day and show a sign of browning or rotting on the second day when the temperature rises in the summer months. As a result of rapid deterioration, unsold flowers are discarded and the loss due to spoilage is worth several lakhs of rupees a year. Thus, there is a vast scope for improvement in technologies adopted, which will yield tremendous export potential. Hence, the investigations were made in the Department of Horticulture, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya to standardise wrapping and packaging technique to enhance the vase life of tuberose spike on the shelf life of tuberose flowers under room (ambient) condition. The experiment was conducted in completely randomized black design (CRD) with 6 treatments and three replications. The study revealed that for all the attributes, packing of polyethylene bags without ventilation recorded better result than ventilated polyethylene bags. Among the various packaging materials used to improve the post-harvest life of tuberose Minimum physiological loss in weight on senescence day was in T2 (Sleeve packaging + CFB box) while maximum loss in weight was in T₁ (Control). In case of vase life of maximum (13.00 and 13.33 days) was in T₂ (Sleeve packaging + CFB box) while the minimum vase life was in T1 (Control).