Effect of eco-friendly wrapping materials on the post-harvest life of cut Gerbera var. Stanza.

Introduction

Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii) is one of the popular cut flower used for the flower arrangements and bouquets in India as well as in export markets. A cultivated area of 5,280 ha and production area of 26,660 Mt in India was estimated in advanced for the year 2023-24. (Anon., 2024) [1] . As per the analysis of the National Horticultural Board, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Assam, West Bengal, Orissa, Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand are the top ten gerbera-producing states of India during the year 2021-2022. Post-harvest losses are the losses that take place after the harvesting of crops. They can be qualitative as well as quantitative. Qualitative losses involve consumers' choice of the produce and are difficult to quantify. Quantitative losses are caused during post-harvest handling and they exist throughout the market chain (Bhattacharjee 2006) [2] . That's why, utilization of proper wrapping material for cut gerberas while transportation ensures the maximum freshness retention and price in market. At present, gerbera flowers are transported by using polyethylene flower sleeves. It was stated by Khazir & Shetty. (2014) [5] that various plant-based packaging materials will be environmentally friendly and can also act as the best alternative to plastics. However, little is known about the ability of eco-friendly wrapping materials to extend the vase life of the gerberas. Hence, an attempt for standardization of eco-friendly wrapping materials to retain freshness and extend the vase life of cut gerberas was made along with an aim to promote environmental sustainability. level. The experiment on post-harvest studies was carried out during the months of January-March 2024 under controlled room temperature of 21±4 °C. The experimental design was laid out in a Factorial Completely Randomized Design (FCRD) with three replications and 21 treatment combinations consisting of seven wrapping treatments namely, T 0 (Control viz. Unwrapped), T 1 (Banana leaves), T 2 (Packing leaves viz. Phrynium pubinerve), T 3 (Brown paper), T 4 (Butter paper), T 5 (Newspaper) and T 6 (Paper towel) and three storage durations i.e. D 1 (6 hrs), D 2 (12 hrs) and D 3 (18 hrs) respectively. Cut Gerberas were procured from Central Institute of Horticulture, Medziphema. The length of all the stalks was kept uniform at 35cm and were pulsed using a standardized pulsing solution comprising of 6% Sucrose + 200 ppm Al 2 (SO 4 ) 3 for 6 hours. Initial weight of the flowers was recorded before wrapping in eco-friendly wrapping materials and kept at room temperature to simulate transit for different periods of 6 hrs, 12 hrs, and 18 hrs. After the required hours of treatment, the cut gerberas were unwrapped and transferred to a 500 ml conical flask filled with 300 ml distilled water. Parameters like percentage changes in fresh weight (%), rate of elongation (cm), percentage change in flower diameter (cm), stalk girth (mm), water uptake (g), water loss (g), water balance ratio, vase life (days) and stem break percentage were recorded.

Results

Effect of Wrapping Material on Cut Gerbera

The wrapping materials significantly influenced all the floral parameters studied except stalk girth (Tables 1 and2). Water uptake varied significantly among the treatments throughout the vase period. On the 3rd day, the highest water uptake was recorded in T₁ (8.11 g), followed by the other wrapping treatments, whereas the lowest uptake was observed in the control (T₀) with 4.23 g. A similar trend was observed on the 6th day, where T₁ recorded the maximum water uptake (10.65 g), while T₀ registered the minimum value (5.69 g). On the 9th day, water uptake declined in all treatments; however, T₁ continued to record the highest uptake (8.71 g), whereas T₀ maintained the lowest value (4.47 g). Water loss also differed significantly among the wrapping materials. On the 3rd day, T₁ recorded the highest water loss (8.64 g), while the lowest water loss was observed in T₀ (5.95 g). The highest water loss was recorded on the 6th day in T₁ (12.07 g), whereas T₀ recorded the lowest value (9.61 g). Water loss decreased thereafter in all treatments by the 9th day. The water balance ratio was significantly influenced by the wrapping materials. T₁ recorded the highest water balance ratio throughout the observation period, with values of 0.97, 0.88, and 0.82 on the 3rd, 6th, and 9th day, respectively. In contrast, T₀ recorded the lowest water balance ratio of 0.73, 0.64, and 0.51 on the respective days. Irrespective of the treatments, the water balance ratio declined progressively as the vase period advanced. Significant differences were observed in the percentage change in fresh weight among the treatments. The lowest reduction in fresh weight was recorded in T₁ (23.95%), indicating better maintenance of flower freshness, whereas the highest reduction was observed in T₃ (35.95%).

The percentage reduction in flower diameter also differed significantly among the treatments. The minimum reduction in flower diameter was recorded in T₂ (15.49%), while the maximum reduction was observed in T₃ (23.04%). Stem elongation was observed in all treatments during the vase period. The maximum stem length at senescence was recorded in T₁ (36.09 cm), showing an increase from the initial harvest length of 35.00 cm. The minimum increase in stem length was recorded in the control (T₀), which attained a final length of 35.56 cm. The vase life of cut gerbera was significantly affected by the wrapping materials. Among the treatments, T₁ recorded the longest vase life (13.52 days), whereas the control exhibited the shortest vase life.

Effect of Wrapping Duration on Cut Gerbera

Wrapping duration significantly influenced the postharvest performance of cut gerbera flowers. Water uptake decreased with increasing storage duration. The highest water uptake was recorded on the 6th day under D₁ (8.53 g), whereas the lowest uptake was observed on the 9th day under D₃ (4.79 g). In general, flowers stored for shorter durations exhibited greater water uptake than those stored for longer durations. Water loss showed a similar trend across the storage durations. The highest water loss was recorded on the 6th day under D₁, D₂, and D₃, with values of 11.01, 10.31, and 9.89 g, respectively. Comparatively lower water loss was observed on the 3rd day, with values of 5.53, 6.87, and 8.06 g under D₁, D₂, and D₃, respectively. The water balance ratio declined progressively with increasing storage duration and vase period. Under D₁, the ratio decreased from 0.85 on the 3rd day to 0.72 on the 9th day. Similarly, it declined from 0.84 to 0.65 under D₂ and from 0.81 to 0.55 under D₃. Among the storage durations, D₁ consistently maintained the highest water balance ratio throughout the vase period, while D₃ recorded the lowest values on the final day of observation.

Interactive effect of wrapping duration on cut gerbera.

Table . 1, shows the significant interaction between wrapping materials and durations on the 3 rd and 6 th day of water uptake. Highest water uptake observed in T 1 D 1 on 6 th day (11.62 g) while lowest in T 0 D 1 on 3 rd day (3.11 g). Overall, it was observed that all treatments show a decrease in water uptake with increasing wrapping duration and storage days. More water loss due to transpiration was observed in T 1 D 2 on 6 th day (12.33 g) while less in T 7 D 1 on 3 rd day (4.24 g). Depending on water uptake and water loss, T 1 D 1 and T 2 D 1 were found to be leading in water balance ratio with a similar value of 0.98 on 3 rd day. The lowest water balance ratio was shown by T 0 D 3 on its 9 th day (0.41). These may establishment of a modified atmosphere by wrapping materials leading to slowing of metabolic processes such as respiration and moisture loss. Table . 2, show more change in fresh weight in T 4 D 2 (41.41%), and less in T 2 D 1 (22.48%). T 5 D 3 with high change in flower diameter (28.74%) and T 2 D 2 (14.71%) with low on their senescence day. Stalk girth had a very uncertain trend of changes, and failed to give any clear idea about the effect of wrapping material and duration on it. T 1 D 1 showed an elongation of 36.27 cm from 35 cm in cut gerbera, which was the highest among all while the lowest was found in the case of T 0 D 2 (from 35 cm to 35.52 cm). T 1 D 1 showed the longest vase life of 14.15 days and the ones with T 0 D 3 treatment showed the shortest of 9.21 days.

Discussion

All the floral parameters except stalk girth were significantly affected by wrapping materials as observed in Tables 1 and2. Maximum water uptake was recorded in T 1 (8.11g, 10.65g and 8.71g) while minimum water uptake was found in T 0 (4.23g, 5.69g and 4.47 g). This may be due to the ability of banana leaves to cause minimum cell damage during storage and to retain normal cell conditions after storage, which ultimately resulted in normal water uptake. Varu et al (2008) [13] also found more water uptake by cut tuberose wrapped in packaging materials than in control one. Highest water loss was in T 1 with values 8.64 g and 12.07 g on 3 rd day and 6 th day respectively while, control showed lowest (5.95 g to 9.61 g). LüPeiTao et al (2011) studied that water loss rates by the cut individual rose had a parallel pattern to water uptake rates. T 1 had highest water balance ratio (0.97, 0.88 and 0.82), and T 0 showed the lowest values (0.73, 0.64, 0.51) on the 3 rd , 6 th and 9 th day. Kumar and Gupta (2012) [7] stated, biodegradable packaging material provide an atmosphere that prevent alterations in temperature, light, moisture, humidity, compression, impact, vibration, and biological contamination. Percentage change in fresh weight was minimal in T 1 (23.95%) and maximal in T 3 (35.95%). Bhuvaneswari (2017) [3] observed better freshness index in the sheath cups of banana. T 2 showed minimum percentage changes in flower diameter (15.49%) and 3 (23.04%) maximum. Stems of T 1 elongated to 36.09 cm from 35cm on senescence day, while that of T 0 to 35.56 cm. Perik et al (2012) [11] stated that stem contains large central cavity at the time of harvest which extends upwards and laterally during entire vase life. More vase life in T 1 (13.52 days) was observed. Patil and Dhaduk (2010) [10] , reported reduction in moisture loss by using wrapping materials, increased vase life of tuberose cut spikes cv. Local Double increased. Mishra (2022) [9] found similar results in China aster flowers. Table 1. shows that maximum water uptake on 6th day at D 1 (8.53 g) and minimum on 9 th day at D 3 (4.79). These results conform with the findings of Shil et al (2014) who reported that total water absorption decreased with increase in storage duration of cut spikes in tuberose. High water loss on 6 th day of all durations (11.01 g, 10.31 g and 9.89 g) while low on 3 rd day (5.53 g, 6.87 g and 8.06 g). Woltering and Paillart (2018) [15] , observed in cut roses deregulated or excess water loss with long-term storage (28 days at 0.5 °C). D 1 showed decrease in water balance ratio from 0.85 on the 3 rd to 0.72 on 9 th day. At D 2 and D 3 , it decreased from 0.84 to 0.65 and 0.81 to 0.55 on 3 rd and 9 th day respectively. The present result collaborates with the findings of Khenizy et al (2014) [6] , in cut gypsophila where they found that cut flowers stored for 0 days showed higher water balance than cut flowers stored for 7 days at 4 °CD 1 (28.48%) show minimum changes in fresh weight while D 2 and D 3 showed changes of 34.00% and 33.99% respectively. Ghildiyal et al (2012) [4] , concluded that cut chrysanthemums had lower weight loss percentage at 6 hrs storage of simulated transit than at 16 hrs. Flower diameter showed an increase in changes with an increase in wrapping duration (16.26%, 20.35% and 21.66%). This result inclined with the findings of Waithaka et al (2001) [14] which state that shorter storage duration of tuberose spikes showed more diameter of florets. No significant effect on stalk girth and stalk elongation were observed; whereas vase life had decreasing trend (12.26 days, 11.26 days and 10.35 days). Verma and Jhanji (2021) [16] , found that marigold flowers stored for 1 day recorded maximum shelf life (4.05 days) as compared to 2 days (3.05 days) or 3 days (2.11 days).

Conclusion

From the present investigation, it can be concluded that T 1 showed superiority in terms of water uptake, water balance ratio, retention of fresh weight and vase life. D 1 performed better with respect to water uptake, water balance ratio, retention of fresh weight and flower diameter, and highest vase life. No significant impact of wrapping duration on stalk girth and stalk elongation was observed. T 1 D 1 treatment gave better results with respect to floral parameters like water uptake, water balance ratio, fresh weight retention and vase life.

Authors' Contribution

Conceptualization and designing of experiment; Implementing experiment; Data collection and analysis; Manuscript preparation.

Acknowledgement

AcknowledgementAuthors acknowledge the Dean of School of Agricultural Sciences, Nagaland University for financial and technical assistance.

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