DEHYDRATION OF ANNUAL CHRYSANTHEMUM (C. CORONARIUM)

The flowers were dried in electrically operated hot air oven by embedding them in two desiccating media, river sand and silica gel, and keeping them at controlled temperatures of 30, 40, and 50 °C for 24, 36, and 48 hours. Observations were recorded on weight (g), moisture (%), and carotenoid contents (mg·100 g^-1) of fresh and dried flowers. Appearance score was also given visually on the basis of colour, cupping, and stiffness of the petals. The weight of fresh and dried flowers was in the range of 1.25-1.44 g and 0.13-2.6 g with the moisture content of 87.43-88.78 % and 9.19-15.68 %, respectively. It was observed that the weight and moisture content of dried flowers decreased significantly with the increase in oven temperature and duration of drying. The percent decrease was significantly more in silica gel as compared to river sand. The carotenoid contents were 3.42-3.62 mg·100 g^-1 in fresh and 2.30-2.90 mg&middot100 g^-1 in dried flowers which decreased with the increase in temperature and duration of keeping them in the oven in both the media. Silica gel was found to be the best as the percent decrease in carotenoid contents was significantly less compared to sand. Best quality dried flowers were obtained by embedding them in silica gel and keeping them at 50 °C for 48 hours in the oven as the percent decrease in weight and moisture content was at the greatest and percent decrease in carotenoid content was less. The visual score for these flowers was also higher compared to other treatments.

XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Asian Plants with Unique Horticultural Potential: Genetic Resources, Cultural Practices, and Utilization

D.S. Dahiya, D. Unnikrishnan, A.K. Gupta, S.K. Sehrawat, S. Siddiqui

silica gel, river sand, moisture, carotenoid

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2003.620.45