The document discusses the importance of post-harvest handling of flowers to maintain their quality and longevity, highlighting factors such as the stage of harvest, pre-cooling, pulsing treatments, and the use of preservative solutions. It emphasizes the need for optimal packaging and cold chain management during transportation to enhance shelf life. Additionally, it explores grading techniques and recent advancements in packaging materials and technologies for the export of flowers.

1. 1

2. Introduction
Flowers and post production handling
2

3. Need for post harvest handling
Flowers remain alive even after harvest and continue their
metabolic activities causing
Depletion of carbohydrates
Rise in temperature and respiration rates
Rapid deterioration due to micro-organisms
Water stress
Increased accumulation of ethylene
Deterioration
Of harvested
Produce
Need for appropriate post harvest
handling technologies
3

4. Factors effecting post harvest quality and
longevity of flowers
1.Pre harvest factors 2. Post harvest factors
 Genetic / inherent
4
make up
 Growing conditions
 Stage of harvest
 Respiration rate
 RH
 Growth regulators
 Preservative solutions
 Precooling and storage
 Packing and transporting

5. Critical factors involved in post harvest
longevity
Stage of Harvest
Post harvest treatments
like pulsing
storage
Packing
Transportation with cold chain
Vase
5

6. 6
1.Stage of harvest

7. 7
Stage of harvest
Plays a key role
Varies with species
With in species it
varies with varieties

8. 8
Reviews on stage of harvest
Yoode et al., 2013
Acta Hort .
Dendrobium Orchid cv.Suree
white and Suree peach
S1 = 25 % opened flowers
S2 = 40 % opened flowers
S3 = 50 % opened flowers
S4 = 75 % opened flowers
cv.Suree white no
difference
cv.suree peach –
25 % opened
flowers -
increased vase life
Singh et al., 2010
J.Ornam. Hort.
Chrysanthemum cv.Reagen
S1 = ray floret diameter 1-1.5
cm
S2 = buds half open
S3 = ¾ open buds
Maximum floret
longevity with S1
Varu and Barad. 2010
J.Hort.Sciences
Tuberose
S1= unopened florets
S2 = one floret opened
S3 = two florets opened
Stem length : 45, 60, 75, 90
cms
90 cm stem length
with one floret
open stage

9. 2.Precooling and pulsing treatments

10. 10
Precooling and pulsing treatments
Removal of excess field heat
Methods- hydro cooling / refrigeration , forced air cooling
Brings down respiration rate- enhance post harvest quality
Pulsing
Pre-storage / pre shipment treatment for short and prescribed
duration
Sugar is the main component in pulsing solution
To regain turgidity of flowers

11. 11
Reviews on preservative chemicals
Acharyya et al ., 2013
Acta.Hort. Gerbera var
Sunway
100 ppm AgNo3 + 4% sucrose Vase life correlated
with water uptake
Kumar et al.,2012, Annals
of Hort.
Gladiolus cv. yellow
stone
25 ppm AgNo3 + 2% sucrose Water uptake
Flower diameter
Rachis length
Floret length
Hajizadeh et al.,2012
Rosa hybrid cv. Black
magic
100 ppm Al2So4 + 2% ethanol
+ 2.5% sucrose
Vase life extended to
18 days
Marandi et al.,2011
J.Med . Plant.Res
Gladiolus
500 ppm Ajowan oil + 150
ppm STS + 1.5 mM SA
Water uptake
Fresh weight

12. The Comparison of anti microbial effects silver
nano particles and silver nitrate to extend the
vase life of “Red ribbon” cut rose flowers.
12
Hatami et al.(2013)
Trakia. J.Sci.,11 (2): 144-151.

13. 13

14. 14

15. 15

16. 16

17. A,B stem ends
pulsed
With 50 mg
SNP/l
For 1 hr
17
Longitudinal
Section
Cross section
Xylem blockages
C,D- control
Vascular occlusion in the stem end of cut rose

18. 18
Conclusion
Use of 33 nm SNP @50 mg/lt + 5 % sucrose extends
vase life of cut flowers of rose cv. Red Ribbon
Mobility of silver ion in stem of rose flowers is very slow
Application of nano particles with antimicrobial effects can
improve mobility
Although AgNo3 maintains the flower quality , its
application have to be avoided due its environmental risks

19. 3.Grading of flowers
Damaged or infested flowers if any are discarded.
Good flowers are graded according to bud size and
stem length
Uniform buds of a particular grade are bunched for
further process

20. 20
Potential of spectral reflectance as post harvest
classification tool for flower development of Calla
Lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica L. Spreng.)
Steidle et al.,2009
Chilean . J . Agri. Sci., 69(4) :588-592

21. 21

22. 22

23. 23

24. Conclusion
 Spectral reflectance has large potential
to distinguish different postharvest development
stages
 Hence this can be used within automatic
systems for flower classification
 Automation of grading will ensure the
availability of quality flowers with better post
harvest life

25. 25
Packaging materials

26. Packing materials
 cellophane paper
 butter paper
 CFB papers
 aluminum laminated foil
 polyethylene sheet
26

27. 27
Polythene films
LDPE films
Aluminium foil

28. 28

29. Packaging materials:
 CFB boxes with holes
Thermacol boxes
29

30. 30
Reviews on packing materials
Singh et al. 2007
J. Ornam.Hort.,
Gladiolus
Cellophane
Polypropylene
News paper
Butter paper
Brown paper
Plastic coated brown paper
Poly propylene (60
micron) - cold stored
upto 10 days .
Thamirai selvi et
al., 2010
j.Ornam.Hort.,
Jasmine sambac
Polypropylene without vents
( 20 , 40,60,80) microns
Corrugated fibre board with 4 %
vents
Polypropylene
package 60 micron
packing and CFB
packaging with 4 %
boric acid pre
treatment increased
shelf life up to 8 days

31. Jasmine now
from our local
Market to
foreign market
31

32. 32
Standardization of export packing
technology for Jasmine sambac
flowers.
Jawaharlal et al., 2013
International conference on quality management of
supply chains of ornamentals Acta Horticulture ., 970: 81-91.

33. Treatments
Box A – Aluminum foil lined cardboard boxes
Box B – thicker polypropylene boxes
Box C – thinner polypropylene boxes

34. 34
T1 - Sucrose 2 %
T2 - Sucrose 4%
T3 - Boric acid 2%
T4 - Boric acid 4 %
T5 - Salicylic acid 25 ppm
T6 - Salicylic acid 50 ppm
T7 - Ascorbic acid 50 ppm
T8 - Ascorbic acid 100 ppm
T9 - NAA 50 ppm
T10 - NAA 100 ppm
T 11 - distilled water
T - without soaking
Cont….

35. 35
Influence of shelf life of jasmine flowers with different packing and
chemical treatments

36. 36
Influence of export packing material on PLW of jasmine

37. Influence of export packing material on moisture content of jasmine
flowers
37

38. Cost economics of export packing technology per Kg of Jasmine
flowers from India to destination market in New Jersey, US
38

39. Conclusion
The export packing technology involving
 chemical treatments of flowers – 4 % boric acid
 packing - aluminium foil lined boxes
 Packaging – thermacol boxes under gel-ice cold condition
 Shelf life recorded - 42.88 hours ( including 36 hours
of air transit)
 BCR - 1: 2.5
 This package found to be highly suitable for export to
overseas market

40. 40

41. Export packing technology for roses ( loose flower) with gel
41
ice packs

42. 4.cold chain
 Includes the temperature regulation at all stages in
post harvest practices
 Starting from precooling to shipment the optimum
temperatures should be maintained
 Increase the longevity of the flowers

43. Cold chain – an optimum temperature regulation
Stage Temperature
Maintained
Pre cooling 6- 12 0C
Cold storage 5 0 C
Grading and packing 20 o C
Refrigerated vans 5-8 o C
Cargo cabin 16 O C
43

44. 44
Reviews on storage temperatures
Rungruchkananth et
al.2013
Acta horticulture
Dendrobium cvs.
Sonia
Anna
Sanam white
Fatima
an alternative to high freight
charges shipment in sea with
different storage (10,15,20)
temperatures for 3 days was
experimented
Anna – 15o C
Sonia, Sanan white
,Fatima-15-20o C is
optimum consumer
vase life -15 days
Gul et al.2013
journal of
horticultural sciences
and ornamental
plants
Narcissus cv.
Kashmir Local
Wet storage in distilled water for
72 hrs compared with dry storage
at 5 and 10o C
Cool wet storage in
distilled water for 72
hrs is 5o C improved
performance in vase .

45. Best practices for retail display
of fresh cut Roses and Lilies
45
Nell et al., 2010
American Floral Endowment , Special research
report # 447
www.endowment.org

46. 46
Model display cooler used for studies
Temperature – ≤ 5 o C
RH – 65-70%
24 hrs – day light for retail
display

47. 47
Fig : 1 Changes in rose fresh weight / stem from initial weight at
various display temperature
Time in retail display (days)
Fresh
Weight
change
(%)

48. 48
Changes in Lily fresh weight / stem from initial weight at
various display temperature.
Fig : 2
Time in retail display (days)
Fresh Weight change (%)

49. 49
Effect of display conditions on vase life of cut Roses and
Fig 3: Lilies

50. 50
‘Charlotte’ Roses 5 days after
removal from 8 days in display
conditions
Lilies 8 days after removal from
4 days in display conditions

51. 51
Conclusion
Impact to the industry - using display coolers is
an easy way to maintain flower quality during
retail display
Flowers longevity at the customers’ end will
increase when flowers are displayed in coolers

52. 52
Preservative solutions

53. 53
Holding solution:
- The flower
1. Sucrose f ood
 Gives nourishment
 10-20 g/ ltr is optimum
 More we add the faster is the life cycle - so use
optimum concentrations

54. 54
2.Biocide /Germicide
Chemicals which kills the micro- organisms
Retard bacterial growth
Ultimately increase water and nutrient uptake

55. 55
3. Acidifier
 Brings down the pH of the water we use
Increased water uptake

56. 56
4.Ethylene Inhibitor
Senescence
and aging
Amino oxy acetic acid
Amino ethoxy vinyl glycine
Methoxyvinyl glycine
1-methyl cyclo propane
ETHYLENE

57. 57
Site of action of ethylene inhibitors

58. 58
Effect of Gibberlic Acid on vase life and
oxidative activities in senescing cut
gladiolus flowers.
Saeed et al ., 2013
Plant Growth Regulators DOI 10.1007/s 10725-013-9839-y
spinger online publication

59. Effect of various levels of GA3 on percent fresh weight change in
59
Gladiolus cut flowers during 10 days vase life
Change in fresh Weight %
Days in vase solution

60. 60
Effect of various levels of GA3 on SOD activity in gladiolus cut
flowers during 10 days vase life

61. Conclusion
GA3 application at 25-50 mg/L recorded highest
results for improving vase life and quality
GA3 enhanced
 Water uptake
 Membrane stability
 Antioxidant enzyme activity

62. 62
Conclusion

63. 63
Thank you
Presented by
Ch. Girija
Sr. M.Sc
(FLA)
Chair person
Sujatha. A. Nair
Principal Scientist
Division of Ornamental Crops
IIHR , Bengaluru