Influence of Packaging Materials and Storage Temperature on Postharvest Quality and Longevity of Marigold Flowers

Abstract

Post-harvest factors, including packaging materials and storage temperature, play a crucial role in influencing the moisture retention, visual quality, and longevity of loose flowers. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of different packaging materials and storage temperatures on the post-harvest longevity of marigolds. The experiment employed a completely randomised design (factorial), incorporating six types of packaging: plastic basket (P₀), muslin cloth (P₁), onion mesh (P₂), polyethylene (P₃), shrink wrap (P₄), and newspaper (P₅). These were tested under two storage conditions: cold storage below 5°C (S₁) and room temperature (S₂), resulting in 12 distinct treatment combinations with three replications. Post-harvest outcomes were assessed using shelf life, flower shrivelling, weight variation, and moisture content. The interaction between packaging and storage temperature revealed significant differences among the treatments. T7 (P₃S₁; polyethylene + cold storage) demonstrated the longest average shelf life of 17.65 days and the least shrivelling of 1.14 cm at 18 DAS. The smallest average weight change of 5.75% was observed in T3 (P₁S₁; muslin cloth + cold storage), with T7 closely following at 5.83%. Similarly, T3 exhibited the highest average moisture content of 94.10%, with T7 slightly behind at 93.92%. The enhanced post-harvest performance with appropriate packaging and low-temperature storage is likely attributable to reduced moisture loss, preservation of tissue firmness, and decreased metabolic activity, collectively delaying flower deterioration. These findings suggest that selecting suitable packaging materials in conjunction with cold storage can significantly reduce post-harvest losses and extend the storage life of marigold flowers.