Standardization of Post-Harvest Management Techniques for Ixora (Ixora spp.)

The objective of this experiment was to optimize the post-harvest handling techniques for four Ixora genotypes grown for loose flower purpose. The experiment was laid out in Factorial Completely Randomised Design (FCRD) with four genotypes namely viz., Red (Ixora casei-G1), Pink (I. chinensis-G2), Orange (I. coccinea-G3) and Yellow (I. chinensis-G4) and six post-harvest treatments replicated three times. Observations were made on the floral quality criteria as well as the physiological characters linked with flower post-harvest quality. The results revealed that among the genotypes, Red (I. casei-G1) proved superior with respect to quality parameters and physiological parameters followed by Pink (I. chinensis-G2). Among the post-harvest treatments, treating flower buds with 4% boric acid and storage under refrigeration @ 50C recorded superior results for all the quality parameters viz., freshness index, flower opening index, colour retention and shelf life and the physiological parameters viz., moisture content, relative water content and physiological loss in weight.