POST-HARVEST IMPACT OF PACKAGING MATERIAL AND STORAGE DURATION ON CUT Narcissus tazetta

Abstract

Narcissus, belonging to Amaryllidaceae family, is one of the emerging cut flower in ornamental industry. Appropriate cut flower packaging for ideal time period provides potential benefit of improving their post-harvest quality of flower. Current research was conducted with an objective to find out best suitable packaging materials and optimum storage duration for cut flowers of narcissus. Narcissus postharvest features were analyzed statistically and results showed significant difference among the treatments with respect to packaging material as well as storage duration. In our findings, polyethylene sleeve showed best results in most of postharvest parameters (vase life, total life, dry weight, and change in fresh weight). In our results, 2 hours duration of storage significantly improved the post-harvest parameters of cut Narcissus. Vase life, fresh and dry weight of flower obtained maximum value in two hours storage duration. It was interesting to note that as storage duration increased, post-harvest characters reduced. In conclusion, postharvest quality of cut Narcissus can be improved significantly by using suitable packaging material and optimizing storage duration.