Influence of postharvest treatments on quality and shelf life of flowers of Jasminum sambac cv. Gundumalli

A research on standardization of method of packaging to extend shelf life of Jasminum sambac CV. Gundumalli was conducted in College of Agriculture, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar during 2015-16. The experiment was laid out in FCRD with two factors in three replications, with 16 treatment combinations. Observations were recorded on the visual quality in terms of freshness index, flowers opening index, colour retention index, and shelf life of flowers and the physiological parameters associated with the postharvest quality of flowers, namely, moisture content, relative water content, physiological loss in weight. The flowers treated with 4% boric acid, packed in 60-micron polyethylene bags without ventilation and stored under 7 0C significantly extend the shelf life to 168.33 hours with highest freshness index (87.45%), maximum colour retention index of (92.68%), and lowest flower opening index (10.57%), highest moisture content of (75.82%) and lowest physiological weight loss percent (0.35%) on 48 hours after packing.