The ppt deals with the post harvest life of Boston fern and several methods to increase it.

1. Department of Post Harvest Technology
Faculty of Horticulture
Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya,
Mohanpur,
Nadia-741252, (W.B.)
COURSE NO. pht- 699 DATE- 11/06/2019
SEMINAR:ii
STUDY ON POST HARVEST LIFE OF BOSTON
FERN (Nephrolepis exaltata)
SPEAKER: Biswajit karmakar , m.sc 4th Sem. (P.h.t.)
SEMINAR LEADER : prof. A.K. banik& Dr. S. mitra CHAIRMAN : prof.
Suhrita chakrabarty

2. Topic division
 Introduction
 Review of Literature
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Conclusion

3. INTRODUCTION

4.  Boston fern is also one of the most popular cut foliage commonly
known as “Sword fern” or “Boston fern”.
 Botanical Name: Nephrolepis exaltata L.
 Family: Nephrolepidaceae
 Native: North, Central, and South America
 In India: Highest area and production of fern in hilly region of West
Bengal and Sikkim.
 Uses: Fronds can be used as a source of floral decoration and in
floral arrangements (Schlosser and Blatner, 1997) and other
accessories for value addition like floral designs such as bouquets,
wraths, interior decoration etc.

5. Uses of fern in different purpose

6. OBJECTIVES
I. Standardization of holding solution of Nephrolepis
exaltata.
II. Standardization of dry storage of Nephrolepis
exaltata.
III. Processing of Nephrolepis exaltata with glycerine

8. Authors Findings
Conder et al. (1979)
They were tried glycerine method of drying,
dried materials (Whole bunches or single
leaves) retained their natural shape and
flexibility.
Dana et al. (1983)
Reported that many types of foliage have
been successfully preserved to maintain
softness and flexibility. This is done by
immersing leaves or placing stem in 33%
glycerol solution.
Stamps and Chase
(1984)
Observed that the storage of leather leaf fern
fronds at 4.5℃ for one month did not affect
their subsequent vase life.

9. Reddy et al. (1997)
Also reported that GA3 increase water uptake with better
maintenance of water balance and fresh weight increase,
which finally increase the vase life and inhibiting the
vascular blockage.
Singh et al. (2001)
Nephrolepis is an important fern whose fronds are
commercially used for flower arrangement. To ensure the
availability to the greens for a longer duration.
Singh et al. (2003)
Reported that fronds of ‘Bostoniensis’ exhibited a slight but
continuous decrease in there vase life after dry storage.
Malakar et al. (2017)
studied the effect of various chemicals used, GA@50 and
100ppm and AgNO3@ 20ppm only were effective the vase
life respectively in contrast to normal vase life in
Nephrolepis exaltata.
Cont.….

11. EXPERIMENT SITE
The present investigation was undertaken under the
under the Faculty of Horticulture The laboratory
work was carried out in laboratory of AICRP on
Floriculture, department of Post-Harvest Technology,
Directorate of Research Complex, Kalyani, Bidhan
Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia,
and West Bengal during the year 2017-19.

12. Experiment – I: Standardization of holding solution of
Nephrolepis exaltata.
Stage of harvest: Mature fronds of Nephrolepis exaltata, removing the
pinnea from the lower third of the frond, recutting to obtained a uniform
length of 30 cm.
Treatments (holding solution): 9
T1 - Control (No chemical dipping)
T2 - GA3 50 ppm
T3 - GA3 100 ppm
T4 - NAA 50 ppm
T5 - NAA 100 ppm
T6 - AL2SO4 100
T7 - AL2SO4 200 ppm
T8 - Sucrose 4 %
T9 - Sucrose 5 %

13.  No. of replications : 3
 Design of experiment: CRD (Completely randomized design)
Observations recorded:
1) Effective vase life (days)
2) Cumulative water uptake during vase life (ml)
3) Transpiration loss (ml)
4) Cumulative water balance (ml)
5) Water loss/ uptake ratio (%)
6) Relative fresh weight (%)
7) Total chlorophyll content(mg/g)
8) Acceptability on visual basis (1-4 scale basis)

14. PROCEDURE
Remove the pinnae from the lower third of the frond
Re-cutting to obtain a uniform length of 30 cm
Harvest mature fronds of Nephrolepis exaltata
Uniform dipping of 4.5 cm under containing solution
Allowed to absorb the solution under ambient condition

15. Fig. During study of vase life

16. Experiment-II: Standardization of dry storage of
Nephrolepis exaltata
 Stage of harvest: Mature fronds of Nephrolepis exaltata ,removing the
pinnae from the lower third of the frond, re-cutting to obtain a uniform
length of 30cm
 Pre-storage treatment: Pre-cooling for 6 hour at 4-5°C in distilled water
 Packaging films/ treatment : 2
I. Non-vented PP- 100 gauge thick, (a bunch of three fronds sealed in a
sleeve)
II. Non-vented PE- 100 gauge thick, (a bunch of three fronds sealed in a
sleeve)
 Store duration: (5) 0 days to 20 days (0,5,10,15,and 20)
 No. of treatments: 2x5
 No. of replication: 3

17.  Design of experiment: Completely randomized design (CRD )
 Observations recorded
1. Percent loss of fresh weight (PLW) in storage (%)
2. Effective vase life (days)
3. Cumulative water uptake during vase life (ml)
4. Transpiration loss (ml)
5. Cumulative water balance (ml/spike)
6. Water loss/ uptake ratio (%)
7. Relative fresh weight (%)
8. Total chlorophyll content(mg/g)
9. Acceptability on visual basis (1-4 hedonic scale)

18. PROCEDURE
Remove the pinnae from the lower third of the frond
Re cutting to obtain a uniform length of 30 cm
Harvest mature fronds of Nephrolepis exaltata
Packed in non-ventilated Packaging films (PP & PE, 100 gauge thick).
Stored at 4-5 °C and 80 to 85% RH for 0 to 20 days
Pre-cooling for 6 hour at 4-5 °C in distilled water
After storage base of the frond to be re-cut & placed in plain water for evaluation of
kipping quality

19. General view of packaging materials used for the dry storage.
Polyethylene bags Polypropylene bags

20. Packing the ferns for dry storage.

21. General view after packaging before storage.

22. Taking out ferns after storage from the packaging
materials.

23. Experiment-IIl: Processing of Nephrolepis exaltata with
glycerine
 No. of treatments: 7
T1 - Glycerine full dip (10%)
T2 - Glycerine full dip (20%)
T3 - Glycerine full dip (40%)
T4 - Glycerine absorption (10%)
T5 - Glycerine absorption (20%)
T6 - Glycerine absorption (40%)
T7- Control (without glycerine)
 No. of replications : 3
 Design of experiment: Completely Randomized Design

24.  1. Affective shelf life (days)
2. Total weight gain (ml)
3. Relative Fresh weight (%)
4. Texture (1-9 Hedonic scale)
5. Brittleness
6. Colour retention
7. Overall acceptance (1-4)
Observation recorded

25. PROCEDURE
Preparation of glycerine solution
Re cutting to obtain a uniform length of 30 cm
Collected mature fronds of Nephrolepis exaltata
By placing only the stems or dipping the foliage’s in the glycerine solution.
Taken reading after 24, 48 and 72 hour
After store the fronds in normal condition

26. Fig.: glycerine dipping method

27. Sl. No. Score Description
1. 9 Like extremely
2. 8 Like very much
3. 7 Like moderately
4. 6 Like slightly
5. 5 Neither like or dislike
6. 4 Dislike slightly
7. 3 Dislike moderately
8. 2 Dislike very much
9. 1 Dislike extremely
Hedonic Scale (1-9):
(Ranganna, 2010)

29. Experiment-l: Standardization of holding
solution of Nephrolepis exaltata

30. Treatments
Effective
vase life
(days)
Cumulative
water
uptake (ml)
Cumulative
transpiration
loss (ml)
Cumulative
water
balance
(g/foliage)
Water
loss/upt
ake ratio
T1 (Control) 15.33 2.97 0.52 2.45 0.17
T2 (GA3 50 ppm) 17.00 3.33 0.41 2.91 0.12
T3 (GA3 100ppm) 16.00 3.18 0.45 2.73 0.14
T4 (NAA 50ppm) 13.00 2.36 0.55 1.80 0.23
T5 (NAA 100 ppm) 10.33 1.96 0.57 1.39 0.29
T6 (AL2SO4 100ppm) 8.33 1.79 0.60 1.19 0.33
T7 (AL2SO4 200ppm) 7.67 1.70 0.62 1.08 0.37
T8 (Sucrose 4%) 19.33 3.98 0.35 3.63 0.09
T9 (Sucrose 5%) 21.00 4.32 0.31 4.00 0.07
SE(m±) 0.533 0.05 0.028 0.048 0.010
C.D. 1.596 0.15 0.085 0.145 0.029
Table 1: Effect of post harvest treatments on effective vase life (days),
cumulative water uptake (ml), cumulative transpirational loss (ml),
cumulative water balance (g/foliage), water loss/uptake ratio

31. Total chlorophyll content (mg/g) Overall
acceptability after
7 days ( Score 1-4)Treatment 1st Day Last day
Chlorophyll loss
during storage
T1 (CONTROL) 76.67 71.00 5.67 3.17
T2 (GA3 50 ppm) 80.33 76.33 4.00 3.50
T3 (GA3 100ppm) 80.67 77.00 3.67 3.33
T4 (NAA 50ppm) 59.67 54.67 5.00 2.83
T5 (NAA 100 ppm) 41.33 36.00 5.33 2.67
T6 (AL2SO4 100ppm) 73.00 66.33 6.67 2.33
T7 (AL2SO4 200ppm) 65.00 58.00 7.00 2.10
T8 (SUCROSE 4%) 69.33 65.00 4.33 3.67
T9 (SUCROSE 5%) 65.33 60.67 4.67 3.83
SE(m±) 4.93 4.78 0.92 0.28
C.D. 14.75 14.32 N/A 0.8
Table 2: Effect of post harvest treatments on chlorophyll content
during vase life (mg/g) and Overall acceptability

32. RELATIVE FRESH WEIGHT (%)
TREATMENT 1st Day 4th Day 7th Day 10th Day 13th Day 16th Day 19th Day
T1 (CONTROL) 102.44 95.33 91.99 88.77 86.94 84.82 84.82
T2 (GA3 50 ppm) 104.26 99.57 97.20 94.99 92.98 91.03 88.26
T3 (GA3 100ppm) 104.62 98.72 95.33 91.99 89.42 86.11 --
T4 (NAA 50ppm) 102.26 91.17 86.41 83.08 -- -- --
T5 (NAA 100 ppm) 102.31 91.66 87.00 83.51 -- -- --
T6 (AL2SO4 100ppm) 103.42 91.69 83.34 -- -- -- --
T7 (AL2SO4 200ppm) 103.78 88.45 79.34 -- -- -- --
T8 (SUCROSE 4%) 104.24 101.36 97.87 95.08 92.28 89.47 87.83
T9 (SUCROSE 5%) 102.81 100.60 97.91 95.76 93.58 91.48 90.24
SE(m±) 0.831 1.10 1.27 1.38 1.41 1.16 1.09
C.D. @5% N 3.30 3.80 4.22 NS NS NS
Table 3: Effect of post harvest treatments on Relative fresh
weight (%)

33. Experiment-ll: Standardization of dry
storage of Nephrolepis exaltata

34. Table 4: Effect of post harvest treatments of dry storage on PLW (%) in
storage, effective vase life (days), cumulative water uptake (ml), cumulative
transpirational loss (ml), cumulative water balance (g), water loss/uptake ratio.
Treatment PLW in
storage (%)
Effective
vase life
(days)
Cumulative
Water
Uptake in
Vase (ml)
Cumulative
transpirational
loss (ml)
Cumulative
water
balance
(g/foliage)
Water
loss/uptak
e ratio
PP 0 Days 6.45 19.33 6.29 0.29 6.00 0.04
PE 0 Days 6.02 16.33 6.25 0.30 5.95 0.05
PP 5 Days 6.25 13.33 5.93 0.32 5.61 0.06
PE 5 Days 10.22 11.33 5.33 0.33 5.01 0.06
PP 10 Days 11.85 10.67 5.01 0.36 4.66 0.07
PE 10 Days 13.31 9.33 4.84 0.37 4.48 0.08
PP 15 Days 11.41 8.33 4.61 0.39 4.22 0.09
PE 15 Days 12.04 6.67 4.31 0.40 3.91 0.09
PP 20 Days 12.22 8.00 4.14 0.41 3.73 0.10
PE 20 Days 14.72 6.33 3.83 0.42 3.42 0.11
SE(m±) 1.07 0.37 0.32 0.03 0.33 0.01
C.D. 3.17 1.09 0.96 N/A 0.97 0.02

35. Table 5: Effect of post harvest treatments on chlorophyll content
during vase life (mg/g) and overall acceptability
TOTAL CHLOROPHYLL CONTENT (mg/g) Overall
acceptability
after 7 days
Treatment 1st Day Last day
Chlorophyll loss during
storage
PP 0 Days 75.00 69.67 5.33 3.83
PE 0 Days 79.67 74.00 5.67 3.67
PP 5 Days 78.00 74.33 3.67 3.50
PE 5 Days 59.67 56.00 3.67 3.33
PP 10 Days 65.00 61.00 4.00 3.17
PE 10 Days 73.00 68.67 4.33 2.83
PP 15 Days 65.00 60.33 4.67 2.67
PE 15 Days 69.33 64.67 4.67 2.33
PP 20 Days 65.33 60.33 5.00 2.10
PE 20 Days 67.67 62.33 5.33 1.50
SE(m±) 4.53 4.56 0.79 0.28
C.D. NS NS NS 0.83

36. Table 6: Effect of post harvest treatments on Relative fresh
weight (%)
RELATIVE FRESH WEIGHT (%)
Treatment 2nd Day 5th Day 8th day 11th Day 15th Day 19th Day
PP 0 Days 98.19 97.12 94.58 92.00 89.48 86.87
PE 0 Days 98.14 96.48 93.27 90.07 86.92 86.92
PP 5 Days 98.03 96.62 93.6 90.61 87.53 NA
PE 5 Days 97.89 96.16 92.54 88.81 -- --
PP 10 Days 97.93 96.36 92.91 89.49 -- --
PE 10 Days 97.66 94.87 89.84 -- -- --
PP 15 Days 97.23 95.08 90.34 -- -- --
PE 15 Days 95.29 90.95 -- -- -- --
PP 20 Days 97.78 95.64 91.32 -- -- --
PE 20 Days 95.71 91.92 -- -- -- --
SE(m±) 0.334 0.44 0.73 0.58 - --
C.D. 0.99 1.31 2.19 1.83 NS --

37. After 5 days of storage After 10 days of storage
After 15 days of storage After 20 days of storage

38. Experiment-lll: Standardization of glycerinisation for
leaves of Nephrolepis exaltata

39. Treatments
Effective
shelf life
(days)
Total weight
gain
(%)
Relative fresh weight
24 hrs. 48 hrs. 72 hrs.
T1-Full dip @ 10 % glycerine 29.33 0.28 102.87 106.02 107.44
T2-Full dip @ 20 % glycerine 46.67 0.21 102.50 104.73 105.69
T2-Full dip @ 40 % glycerine 87.33 0.13 101.08 102.47 103.13
T4-Absorption @ 10 %
glycerine
3.33 -0.11 93.97 94.92 97.44
T5-Absorption @ 20 %
glycerine
1.67 -0.44 90.01 88.66 90.03
T6-Absorption @ 40 %
glycerine
1.67 -0.89 86.06 82.28 79.75
T7-Control (distilled water) 0.83 -0.27 102.44 95.33 91.99
SE(m) 1.58 0.04 0.69 0.94 1.06
C.D. 4.82 0.13 2.12 2.86 3.23
Table 7: Effect of post harvest treatments of effective shelf life,
Total weight gain (g), Relative fresh weight (%)

40. Treatments
Scores 1-5
Overall
accepta
nceTexture Brittleness Shape
Colour
retention
T1-Full dip @ 10 % glycerine 4.00 4.50 4.75 4.50 4.40
T2-Full dip @ 20 % glycerine 4.00 4.50 4.50 4.50 4.40
T3-Full dip @ 40 % glycerine 4.50 5.00 5.00 5.00 4.90
T4-Absorption @ 10 %
glycerine
3.00 2.50 3.50 3.75
3.20
T5-Absorption @ 20 %
glycerine
3.00 2.75 3.75 3.50
3.30
T6-Absorption @ 40 %
glycerine
3.50 3.00 4.00 4.00
3.60
T7-Control (distilled water) 1.50 1.00 2.00 1.00 1.40
Table 8: Scoring of fronds after glycerinization (1-5 scale) and
scoring overall acceptability

41. Before glycerinization After glycerinization

42.  Experiment 1: Keeping the mature fronds of Nephrolepis exaltata in 5% Sucrose
solution could enhance the vase life up to 21 days in 25 to 30°C and 70-75% RH,
along with better acceptability, compared to control ( 15 days)
 Experiment 2:
Vase life of the fronds of Nephrolepis exaltata gradually decreased due to dry
storage for 5 days to 20 days. Maximum vase life of 19.33 days was observed in
ferns without storage. Under different storage condition, 5 days was the best
treatment exhibiting maximum vase life of 13.33 days in PP at 4-5°C and 80 to 85%
RH.
 Experiment 3:
Usable shelf life of Nephrolepis exaltata could be enhanced by processing with
glycerin (40%) up to 87.33 days by full dip method . The next best treatment was
20% glycerine, which resulted in shelf life of 46.67 days.
CONCLUSION