Browsing by Author "Anupama, T V"

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Assessment of diversity in native orchids
(Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara, 2021) Shuhda Nalakath; Anupama, T V
A study entitled ‘Assessment of diversity in native orchids’ was conducted in the Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara, from July 2019 to June 2020. The objective of the study was to assess the diversity among the native orchid accessions by evaluating their morphological characters. The morphological characters of twenty three native orchid accessions conserved under the Department of Floriculture and Landscaping were studied. Based on the growth habit, five accessions were classified as monopodial orchids and 18 accessions were classified as sympodial orchids. The accessions viz; Acampe praemorsa, Aerides crispa, Rhynchostylis retusa, Vanda thwaitesii and Luisia sp. were grouped under monopodials, and the accessions belonging to genera viz; Dendrobium, Eria, Pholidota, Bulbophyllum, Flickingeria, Coelogyne, Cymbidium and Oberonia were grouped under sympodials. The quantitative vegetative characters varied significantly among the accessions. Among the monopodial accessions, Acampe praemorsa (VKA/NOR-3) recorded maximum plant height (43.36 cm), internodal length (2.40 cm), leaf length (23.94 cm), leaf width (2.76 cm) and leaf sheath length (3.60 cm). In sympodial orchid accessions, plant height recorded was highest for Dendrobium moschatum (VKA/NOR-37) (75.20 cm). The highest plant spread was observed in Luisia sp. (VKA/NOR-7) (1571.28 sq.cm) among monopodials, whereas Dendrobium crumenatum (VKA/NOR-34) (3979.22 sq.cm) was superior in terms of this parameter among the sympodials. These two species also recorded maximum number of leaves compared to other accessions (89.20 and 95.80). Among sympodials, Cymbidium accessions were observed to be superior in terms of the parameter leaf length, and maximum leaf length was recorded in Cymbidium ensifolium (VKA/NOR- 43) (43.50 cm). Variability was also noted among the accessions with regard to qualitative vegetative characters viz; leaf shape, leaf orientation, leaf arrangement and root colour. Nine native orchid accessions bloomed during the study period were evaluated for their floral characters. Among them Dendrobium crumenatum (VKA/NOR-34) exhibited three flowering seasons (April-May, October, Dec-Jan). The accessionPholidota imbricata (VKA/NOR-29) recorded highest spike length as well as rachis length (49.66 cm and 23.50 cm). The number of florets per spike recorded was maximum in Rhynchostylis retusa (VKA/NOR-4) (99.33). Largest showy flower among the accessions was observed in Dendrobium moschatum (VKA/NOR-37) with maximum flower size of 54.37 sq.cm, highest petal length (3.98 cm), petal width (2.94 cm), petal to petal distance (6.89 cm), length of dorsal sepal (3.49 cm), width of dorsal sepal (1.63 cm), and length of lateral sepal (3.01 cm). Lip (labellum) is the most attractive feature of an orchid flower and is found to have variations. The accession Dendrobium crumenatum (VKA/NOR-34) (2.75 cm) was found to have maximum lip (labellum) length and Dendrobium moschatum (VKA/NOR-37) (2.28 cm) was found to have maximum lip (labellum) width. The longevity of spike on plant recorded was maximum for Dendrobium ovatum (VKA/NOR-60) (12.00 days), and the longevity of florets on spike recorded was maximum in Acampe praemorsa (VKA/NOR-3) (19.00 days). The pollen viability (%) was found to be more than 90 percentage for all the accessions flowered and it was noted maximum for Rhynchostylis retusa (VKA/NOR- 4) (98.27 percentage). Cluster analysis at 75 percentage similarity among the accessions done based on their quantitative characters resulted in different clusters containing accessions with similar morphological traits. Among sympodials most of the accessions were grouped under Cluster A with common characters for plant spread as well as leaf width. With respect to quantitative floral characters most of the accessions were grouped under Cluster A and they showed similarity for characters such as number of spikes, flower size, petal length and width, petal to petal distance, dorsal sepal to lip distance, length and width of lateral sepal and dorsal sepal, and also length and width of lip and column. Wide variation was observed in spike orientation, petal shape, petal curvature and lip shape. The accessions were also noted for the presence of flower fragrance, and it was recorded in Dendrobium crumenatum (VKA/NOR-34), Dendrobium fimbriatum (VKA/NOR-27), Dendrobium moschatum (VKA/NOR-37), Acampe praemorsa (VKA/NOR-3), Rhynchostylis retusa (VKA/NOR-4) and Eria fragrans (VKA/NOR- 25). The floral parts of the accessions also exhibited different sepal, petal, lip and column colouration.Based on morphological evaluation, superior accessions were identified for commercial traits and accordingly they were grouped as pot plant types (VKA/NOR-4, VKA/NOR-39, VKA/NOR-29), fragrant flowered types (VKA/NOR-27, VKA/NOR- 34, VKA/NOR-37, VKA/NOR-4, VKA/NOR-3) accessions with long spike (VKA/NOR-4, VKA/NOR-29), greater number of florets (VKA/NOR-4, VKA/NOR- 29) and highest longevity (VKA/NOR-29, VKA/NOR-3). Diversity assessment using cluster analysis has revealed the variability as well as similarity existed among native orchid accessions on the basis of their morphological characters. The findings are highly useful for identification of superior accessions which can be utilized for crop improvement programmes and also for commercial floriculture.
Evaluation and utilisation of edible lichen parmotrema tinctorum (Nyl.) hale for food preservation
(Department of Post Harvest Technology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2018) Anupama, T V; Sheela, K B
Evaluvation of China aster [Callistephus chinensis (L.) Nees.] for cultivation in tropical plains
(Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2019) Alfin Santhosh; Anupama, T V
Induction of off-season flowering in Jasmine (Jasminum sambac L.)
(Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara, 2021) Sandra Santhosh; Anupama, T V
Jasminum sambac L. is an important commercial loose flower crop cultivated for fresh flowers and for concrete extraction. Due to seasonal flowering nature of jasmine glut during the peak season and scarcity of flowers during off-season is usually observed, which creates fluctuations in the price of the crop. So regulation of flower production according to market needs is very essential in jasmine. It is in this respect that the possibility of using the combination of pruning with plant growth regulators for regulation of flowering in jasmine assumes significance. The study entitled “Induction of off-season flowering in jasmine (Jasminum sambac L.)” was conducted at the Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture at the College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara during 2020-21. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of growth regulators and pruning on induction of off-season flowering in jasmine (Jasminum sambac L.). The experiment was laid out in RBD (with two factors) in two replications. Pruning is done during three different time of the year viz. during last week of September (P1), last week of October (P2) and last week of November (P3); along with the applications of growth regulators in two levels viz. cycocel (1000 ppm, 1500 ppm), paclobutrazol (200 ppm, 300 ppm), mepiquat chloride (150 ppm, 300 ppm) and GA3 (100 ppm, 150 ppm). Growth parameters such as plant height, plant spread, number of primary branches and number of secondary branches, physiological characters such as specific leaf area, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll content of leaves; flowering and yield parameters like number of flowers buds per cyme, number of cymes per plant, number of flower buds per plant, weight of hundred flower buds, flower yield per plant, length of flower bud, width of flower bud, corolla tube length, corolla tube girth, flower yield per plant during offseason and peak season were observed. Pruning have a significant influence on growth and flowering of jasmine. There was a significant variation with respect to vegetative parameters viz. plant height and plant spread. Pruning during last week of September (P1) was superior in terms of vegetative parameters such as plant height and plant spread throughout the period of study. During June 21, plants pruned during last week of October (P2) were found to be on par with plants pruned during last week of September (P1) in terms of plant height. Influence of pruning on plant spread was only significant during the months of February and March, plants pruned during last week of September (P1) were found to be on par with plants pruned during last week of October (P2). There was no significant influence noticed on physiological parameters when pruning was done at three different time periods. Days to first flower bud initiation was found to be less in plants (17.96) pruned during last week of November (P3). The number of buds per plant was significantly higher in plants pruned during last week of November (P3) during February, March and April months of observation (226.92, 297.67 and 260.31 respectively). The number of buds per plant was found to be on par in plants pruned during last week of September (P1) and plants pruned during last week of November (P3) during the month of February. Plants pruned during last week of September (P1) and plants pruned during last week of November (P3) were on par in terms of flower yield during the month of January (42.79 g and 48.93 g respectively); plants pruned during last week of November (P3) was superior in the months of March and April. During offseason significant yield was found in plants pruned during last week of September (P1) whereas during peak season pruning during last week of November (P3) gave superior results (328.01 g and 116. 13 g respectively). Influence of growth regulators was studied and found significant effect with respect to plant height and number of secondary branches. The treatments G1 (cycocel 1000 ppm), G3 (paclobutrazol 200 ppm), G4 (paclobutrazol 300 ppm), G7 (GA3 100 ppm), G8 (GA3 150 ppm) and G9 (untreated plants) were found to be on par in terms of this parameter. Specific leaf area was significantly higher in untreated plants (G9) (198.86 cm2 / g) whereas chlorophyll content was significant among the treatments G3 (paclobutrazol 200 ppm) and G4 (paclobutrazol 300 ppm)(1.285 mg/ g and 1.273 mg/ g). Days to bud initiation was significantly varied and G1 (cycocel 1000 ppm) and plants treated with G4 (paclobutrazol 300 ppm) were on par (11.01 and 9.01 days respectively). Plants treated with G1 (cycocel 1000 ppm) and G3 (paclobutrazol 200 ppm) were found to be significantly superior in terms of number of cymes per plant (78.79 and 76.30 respectively) and number of buds per plant (324.77 and 283.34 respectively). Weight of 100 flowers was significantly higher in plants treated with G7 (GA3 100 ppm) in January (26.26 g), February (26.16 g) and March (26.33 g) and G8 (GA3 150 ppm) in January (26.38 g), March (26.33 g) and April (26.72 g). In terms of corolla tube length treatment with G1 (cycocel 1000 ppm), G2 (cycocel 1500 ppm), G3 (paclobutrazol 200 ppm), and G8 (GA3 150 ppm) had a positive influence and were on par. Even though no significance was noticed in other quality parameters the application of growth retardants had a positive influence on quality parameters compared to control. In relation to effect of growth regulators on yield parameters, significant effect was noticed for total flower yield, yield during offseason and yield during peak season. G1 (cycocel at 1000 ppm) (56. 55, 59.54, 53.5 and 55.35 g), G3 (paclobutrazol at 200 ppm) (42.13, 48.31, 45.41 and 53.01 g) and G7 (GA3 at 100 ppm) (41.103, 46.5, 51. 66 and 47.3 g) were on par from January to April in terms of total yield per plant. During offseason G1 (cycocel 1000 ppm), G3 (paclobutrazol 200 ppm) and G7 (GA3 100 ppm) gave the superior result (335.42, 320.43 and 292.07 g respectively) whereas during peak season in G1 (cycocel 1000 ppm), G3 (paclobutrazol 200 ppm) and G4 (paclobutrazol 300 ppm) (108.85, 98.41 and 98.96 respectively) were found to exhibit significant yield. Considering the interaction effect of time of pruning and application of growth regulators, parameters like days to bud initiation, number of cymes per plant, number of buds per plant, corolla tube length, total flower yield per plant and flower yield during offseason and peak season showed a significant influence. Treatments P1 x G3 (pruning during last week of September + drenching of paclobutrazol at 200 ppm), P1 x G4 (Pruning during last week of September + drenching of paclobutrazol 300 ppm), P2 x G1 (pruning during last week of October + spraying of cycocel at 1000 ppm), P2 x G2 (Pruning during last week of October + cycocel at 1500 ppm), P2 x G3 (pruning during last week of October + paclobutrazol 200 ppm), P2 x G4 (Pruning during last week of October + paclobutrazol at 300 ppm), P3 x G3 (Pruning during last week of November + paclobutrazol 200 ppm) and P3 x G4 (Pruning during last week of November + paclobutrazol at 300 ppm) were found to be on par (8.66, 11.38, 13.5, 12.16, 8.33, 10.16, 10.16 and 11.5 days respectively) in terms of number of days taken for flower bud initiation. Interaction effect on total flower yield showed that P1 x G1 (pruning during the last week of September + cycocel at 1000 ppm) (77.66 g), P1 x G3 (pruning during the last week of September + paclobutrazol at 200 ppm) (61.95 g), P3 x G7 (pruning during the last week of November + GA3 at 100 ppm) (74.29 g) and P3 x G8 (pruning during the last week of November + GA3 at 150 ppm) (82.50 g) gave the significant result. In terms of yield during offseason interaction effect of P1 x G1 (pruning during the last week of September + cycocel at 1000 ppm) gave a higher yield (572. 57 g) when compared with other treatment combinations. P3 x G8 (pruning during the last week of November + GA3 at 100 ppm) (162.57 g) and P3 x G7 (pruning during the last week of November + GA3 at 150 ppm) (160. 54 g) were found to be on par during peak season. Considering the overall effect in induction of offseason flowering in jasmine, combination of pruning during last week of September along with the application of cycocel (1000 ppm) or paclobutrazol (200 ppm) gave the best result.
Morphological characterisation of jasmine (Jasminum spp.)
(Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, College of Agriculture,Vellanikkara, 2023-03-10) Nithisha, K; Anupama, T V
Jasmine is one of the oldest fragrant flowers cultivated by man, which belongs to the family Oleaceae. Although there is high demand for jasmine in Kerala for different occasions, large-scale cultivation is not common. It is crucial to assess the accessions for their characters that will aid in choosing the best genotype for commercial cultivation and crop improvement. In this context, the present study “Morphological characterisation of jasmine (Jasminum spp.)” was undertaken with the objective of evaluating jasmine accessions by using various morphological characters. The experiment was conducted in the Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara from Oct 2021 to Nov 2022. A total of twenty one accessions, including seventeen accessions maintained by AICRP on Floriculture, Kerala Agricultural University and four accessions collected from various parts of Malappuram and Thrissur district were utilised for the study. Morphological characters, viz., plant growth, leaf, floral and post-harvest characters were evaluated in the twenty one accessions. The study revealed significant differences among the accessions for almost all the characters. The jasmine accessions exhibited two types of plant growth habits: bush and climber. Out of twenty-one accessions evaluated, a comparatively large number (eighteen) of accessions were observed to be bushy. Plant height, number of primary and secondary branches also varied among the accessions. Pigmentation in young shoots was recorded in Jasminum nitidum accession KAU Jn 1 and TNAU Jn 1, and Jasminum sambac accessions KAU Js 3 and KAU Js 5. Seventy-six per cent of jasmine accession exhibited simple leaf type. In the remaining twenty-four per cent, pinnately compound and trifoliate compound leaves were noticed. Significant variations in leaf length and leaf breadth among the accessions were recorded. The highest leaf length was recorded in TNAU Jn 1(10.22 cm) while higher leaf breadth was noticed in KAU Js 2 (05.35 cm). KAU Js 2 was superior in terms of leaf area (29.60 cm2 ). All the jasmine accessions were having opposite phyllotaxy. The dominant leaf tip type in jasmine accessions was the sharp leaf tip. Most of the accessions were devoid of leaf pubescence, only accessions belonging to Jasminum multiflorum and Jasminum auriculatum showed pubescence in leaves. Floral characters showed significant variations for all the parameters. While 80 % of the accessions recorded terminal and axillary flower bearing positions, the remaining twenty per cent of accessions had terminal flower bearing position. Most of the accessions showed cluster bearing habit and single whorled type flowers. Doublewhorled (KAU Js 2) and multi-whorled (KAU Js 4, KAU Js 8 and KAU Js 9) flower types were seen in 5% and 14 %, respectively. Pointed and round shaped flower buds were dominant in jasmine accessions. The majority of the accession exhibited white flower and flower bud colour. While, some accessions such as KAU Jm 3, KAU Jn 1, KAU Jn 2, TNAU Jn 1 and CO 2 Pitchi were having pink coloured flower buds. The highest flower bud length was observed in J. grandiflorum accessions, meanwhile, flower bud width was high in J. sambac accessions (KAU Js 1 and KAU Js 11). Significantly highest flower diameter was noted in the accessions TNAU Jn 1 and KAU Jn 1. The number of petals was high in J. sambac accession KAU Js 4, while low in J. grandiflorum accessions. A longer corolla tube length was noticed in Jasminum coarctatum (2.54 cm). Most of the accessions had fragrant flowers, except KAU Jm 2 and KAU Jm 3. With respect to the season of flowering, most of the accessions were found to be seasonal and some were observed to flower throughout the year (J. multiflorum and J. nitidum). The accession KAU Jm 1 was found superior in terms of total flower yield. Seed setting was noticed in J. auriculatum (KAU Ja 1), J. coarctatum (KAU Jc 1), J. nitidum (KAU Jn 2) and J. sambac (KAU Js 3). A close association between GCV and PCV were noted for most of the characters, indicating that the variations in these characters were due to the effect of genotype, and environment had little effect. High heritability and genetic advance indicated the additive gene effect and scope for selection and crop improvement. The residual effects for path analysis were 0.009 indicating, the selected eleven flower yield attributing characters all together contributed about 99 per cent of the variation in hundred flower weight per plant. Cluster diagram based on quantitative characters indicated that there exists much diversity among the accessions. The accessions were ranked for loose flower purpose, essential oil extraction and landscaping purpose. Based on the floral characters the accessions KAU Jm 3, KAU Jn 1, KAU Js 2, KAU Js 3, KAU Jm 2, TNAU Jn 1, KAU Js 9, KAU Js 1, KAU Js 11, KAU Jc 1 were found superior for loose flower purpose, while KAU Jn 1, TNAU Jn 1, KAU Jm 2, KAU Jm 3, KAU Js 2, KAU Jm 1, KAU Js 9, KAU Jg 1, KAU Js 8, CO 2 Pitchi were found superior for landscape purpose. For the extraction of jasmine concrete, the accessions KAU Ja 1 and all the accessions of Jasminum grandiflorum were found higher rank.
Nutritional characterisation of minor leafy vegetables for value addition
(Department of Post Harvest Management, College of Agriculture , Vellanikkara, 2024-12-27) Sowmya Honey Rose Puli.; Anupama, T V
Achieving food and nutritional security necessitates the consumption of vegetables, among which green leafy vegetables (GLVs) are especially significant for their high concentration of vitamins, minerals, ascorbic acid, riboflavin, and folic acid. Due to the substantial vitamin content, GLVs can be beneficial in solving the world's nutritional problems, especially in underdeveloped nations where huge population suffers from micronutrient deficiencies, commonly referred to as "hidden hunger." Micronutrient-rich GLVs are essential for preventing malnourishment and a range of degenerative illnesses. They have been discovered to provide a range of health-promoting qualities, including as antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities, in addition to their nutritional advantages. The study comprised two experiments. The first experiment assessed the proximate composition of biochemicals, minerals, antioxidants, and antinutrients in leaves after shade drying and fine grinding. Basella alba exhibited the highest content of total protein (15.25%), total chlorophyll (136.91 mg/100 g), and total phenols (152.06 mg GAE/100 g), along with the lowest content of antinutrients, viz., nitrates (0.89 mg/g) and oxalates (13.46 mg/g). In contrast, Cnidoscolus aconitifolius demonstrated the highest moisture content (76.20%), crude fibre (31.05%), ascorbic acid (163.51 mg/100 g), nitrates (0.92 mg/g), and phytates (1.55 mg/g). Alternanthera sessilis was notable for its superior content of crude fat (3.81%), total carbohydrates (74.56 g/100 g), total carotenoids (24.14 mg/100 g), antioxidant activity (IC50 = 0.1544 μg/mL), and oxalates (20.43 mg/g). The second experiment explored the dehydration and storage stability of powder of minor leafy vegetables. The blanched and unblanched leaf samples were dried in a cabinet drier until they attained constant weight and were powdered. The powders were then packed in two different packaging materials [laminated pouch and aluminium pouch] and kept in two different storage conditions [ambient and refrigerated]. The samples were analyzed for their biochemical composition (moisture, crude fibre, crude fat, total protein, total chlorophyll, total carbohydrate, ascorbic acid, total carotenoids, total phenols, and antioxidant activity), antinutrients (phytates, oxalates, and nitrates), and microbiological safety in monthly interval up to three months. Observations for sensory evaluation of leaf powders were taken after the third month. In the second experiment, the research on biochemical parameters revealed that the highest moisture (12.36 to 9.35%), total protein (13.87 to 8.73%), total chlorophyll (117.22 to 61.62 mg/100 g), and total phenols (135.21 to 75.52 mg GAE/100 g) were observed in B. alba after the three-month duration. Meanwhile, C. aconitifolius was rich in crude fibre (26.82 to 10.90%) and ascorbic acid (145.28 to 84.79 mg/100 g). Total carbohydrates (72.78 to 57.95 mg/100 g), crude fat (2.86 to 2.44%), and total carotenoids (19.92 to 12.87 mg/100g) were found to be highest in A. sessilis during the storage period of 3 months. The treatment T6 [Unblanched + aluminium pouch + refrigerated storage] had the highest retention, and the lowest was in T3 [Blanched + laminated pouch + ambient storage]. The study on mineral content of leaf powders up on three-months storage revealed that phosphorus (1291.00 to 881.33), potassium (8110.40 to 6262.33), magnesium (1395.00 to 925.00), manganese (9.10 to 6.50), and copper (5.93 to 1.68) mg/100 g were found highest in B. alba. The retention of nitrogen (4053.80 to 3392.00 mg/100 g), sulphur (1150.00 to 385.96 mg/100 g), zinc (7.80 to 3.07 mg/100 g), and sodium (163.80 to 48.17 mg/100 g) were maximum in C. aconitifolius, whereas, the retention of calcium (3700.82 to 2845.03) and iron (40.17 to 26.70) mg/100 g were highest in A. sessilis. The treatment T6 [Unblanched + aluminium pouch + refrigerated storage] was found to have the highest retention of minerals, and the lowest was in T3 [Blanched + laminated pouch + ambient storage]. The results on antioxidant activity after three months of storage revealed that C. aconitifolius had the highest antioxidant activity. The highest antioxidant activity was seen in T6 [Unblanched + aluminium pouch + refrigerated storage] at IC50 = 7.39 μg/mL, and the lowest was in T3 [Blanched + laminated pouch + ambient storage] at IC50 = 14.74 μg/mL. From the observations of antinutrients, it was found that a significant reduction in nitrate content was found in A. sessilis (0.83 to 0.22 mg/g), while the oxalates significantly reduced in C. aconitifolius (25.80 to 7.67 mg/g) and phytates in B. alba (1.67 to 1.12 mg/g). The treatment T3 [Blanched + laminated pouch + ambient storage] was found to have the highest reduction, and the lowest was in T6 [Unblanched + aluminium pouch + refrigerated storage]. The microbiological analysis revealed that the treatments exhibited microbial load in safe limits under ambient and refrigerated conditions for up to 3 months of storage. However, the lowest total plate count (TPC) was observed in A. sessilis (0.80 to 1.20×105 cfu/g), and the maximum was found in C. aconitifolius (0.95 to 1.35×105 cfu/g). The treatment with the lowest TPC resulted in T8 [Blanched + aluminium pouch + refrigerated storage], and the highest was in T1 [Unblanched + laminated pouch + ambient storage]. The sensory evaluation of leaf powders (3 MAS) reported that the mean scores for appearance (T8 = 8.83) and for aroma (T5 = 8.66) were significantly higher in C. aconitifolius, whereas for colour (T4 = T8 = 8.50) and overall acceptability (T8 = 8.50) in B. alba. These findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the nutritional and biochemical profiles of these underutilized, minor leafy vegetables, highlighting their potential for value addition and emphasizing effective post-harvest management in preserving their nutrient content. Value addition through dehydration and cold storage, combined with modern packaging techniques, ensures these vegetables retain their nutrition without compromising quality. Studies should focus on developing advanced preservation and packaging solutions tailored to minor leafy greens, enhancing their contribution to global food and nutrition needs in a sustainable and scalable way.
Post harvest studies in Dracaena fragrans (L.) Ker Gawl cv. 'Massangeana'
(Department of Postharvest Management, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara, 2023-03-25) Amrutha Lakshmi.; Anupama, T V; Soni, K B
Cut foliages are important components of the floricultural industry, and are largely used as fillers in floral decorations. In 2021-22, India has exported 23,597.17MT of floriculture products to the world for the worth of Rs. 771.41crores. In recent times, the international trade of cut foliage from Kerala has expanded enormously and cut foliage is being exported on a large scale from the state. Despite this, research studies on post harvest management of ornamental cut foliage are meagre compared to cut flowers. Dracaena fragrans cv. ‘Massangeana’, belonging to the family Asparagaceae is a popular foliage plant and is characterized by its swordshaped dark green leaves with a yellow stripe along the centre. The main problem in the cut foliage industry is its highly perishable nature and deterioration in quality before reaching the customer. The vase life progressively declines with the duration of the storage and increased storage temperature. Hence standardisation of post harvest practices can help in extending vase life and increasing the export potential of Dracaena fragrans cv. „Massangeana’. Keeping the above facts in view, the present study entitled ‘Post harvest studies in Dracaena fragrans (L.) Ker Gawl cv. ‘Massangeana’ was undertaken in the Department of Postharvest Management with the objective to standardise and develop a cost-effective storage protocol for the cut foliage species Dracaena fragrans cv. ‘Massangeana’. The first experiment was conducted in completely randomized design with five treatments and three replications each. The leaves were precooled for six hours in both cold storage and refrigerated conditions under both dry (sealed in polyethylene sleeves) and wet (in bottles filled with distilled water) conditions. The control was maintained in ambient conditions without precooling treatment. Significantly highest vase life of 16.67 days was exhibited by leaves that were precooled under dry storage in cold storage conditions. All the treatments showed distinct differences in the percentage of weight loss over the vase life, and lower values of weight loss (5.25%) and transpiration (7.51µl/g/day) were observed in the control. A constantly increasing amount of water was absorbed by the leaves that were precooled under dry storage in cold storage conditions. The lowest ethylene evolution rate (0.10 ppm) and the maximum amount of chlorophyll (1.50 mg g-1 ) at the end of the vase life were also observed in this treatment. The respiration rate declined gradually in all treatments and the lowest rate of respiration (0.30%) at the end of vase life was observed in treatments that were precooled in cold storage conditions under both wet and dry storage. The second experiment was conducted in completely randomised design with two factors, namely the storage conditions and the packaging materials. The precooling treatment in dry storage under cold storage conditions resulted in significantly higher vase life and quality of leaves, and all the leaves in the second experiment were precooled in this method. The various packaging materials used were non-vented polyethylene and polypropylene sleeves, and perforated polyethylene and polypropylene sleeves. These were stored in ambient, cold storage and refrigerated conditions. There was significant interaction effect between the two factors in all the observations. Significantly higher vase life was exhibited by leaf samples which were packed in non-vented polypropylene sleeves and stored in cold storage conditions for one week (20.50 days). The vase life studies revealed that the minimum loss in weight (18.64%) and rate of transpiration (26.64µl/g/day) at the end of vase life was observed in leaves packed in perforated polyethylene sleeves and stored under cold storage conditions. As the storage duration increased, the rate of water uptake gradually decreased, coinciding with the end of the vase life. The maximum amount of chlorophyll throughout storage for four weeks was observed in the leaves which were packed in both non-vented polyethylene (1.69 mg g-1 ) and polypropylene sleeves (1.60 mg g-1 ) and stored under cold storage conditions which were on par with each other. The respiration and ethylene evolution rate declined gradually in all treatments and after four weeks of storage, the leaves in polypropylene sleeves and control under ambient conditions showed the lowest rate of respiration (0.00%). The BC ratio for the sale of leaves stored for one week in polypropylene sleeves under ambient conditions was 0.56 and under cold storage, 0.34. The leaves fetch better prices in the export market and the BC ratio can increase up to 1.63, depending on the destination. The most desirable characteristics were observed in leaves stored under cold storage conditions and the storage under refrigerated conditions resulted in damages due to chilling injury. A reduction in vase life and other parameters was also observed in all the treatments as the storage duration increased. Precooling of Dracaena fragrans cv. ‘Massangeana’ leaves for six hours in dry storage under cold storage conditions increased the vase life of the leaves. Packaging in non-vented polypropylene sleeves and storage for one week under cold storage conditions resulted in better vase life and reduced metabolic activities, which is desirable to enhance the export potential of the leaves.
Standardisation of dehydration, storage and packaging of drumstick (Moringa oleifera Lam.) leaves
(Department of Postharvest Management, College of Agriculture,Vellanikkara, 2025) Fathima Ismath.; Anupama, T V
Leafy vegetables are an essential part of a healthy diet, providing an affordable source of vital vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Among them, Moringa oleifera Lam., often called the "miracle tree," stands out for its exceptional nutritional and medicinal properties. Its leaves are rich in bioactive compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial benefits, contributing to improved nutrition and addressing malnutrition, especially in rural households. However, the high moisture content of fresh Moringa leaves makes them highly perishable, necessitating effective post-harvest management to extend their shelf life. Proper dehydration techniques not only reduce spoilage but also help retain their nutritional value, ensuring year-round availability. Converting Moringa leaves into powder enhances their stability and facilitates their incorporation into value-added products. Additionally, suitable packaging and storage conditions play a crucial role in preserving quality and minimizing post-harvest losses. Despite its significance, research on optimizing postharvest handling of Moringa leaves remains limited in Kerala. Hence with this background the present study entitled “Standardisation of dehydration, storage and packaging of drumstick (Moringa oleifera Lam.) leaves” was undertaken to standardize pretreatment methods, dehydration techniques, and suitable packaging materials and storage conditions to enhance the shelf life and preserve the nutritional integrity of Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves. The study was structured into three experiments. The first experiment was to standardise the pretreatments of Moringa leaves. Fresh Moringa leaves were collected, destalked, washed, and subjected to four treatments: control (no blanching), hot water blanching (80°C for 1 min), steam blanching (1 min in a steam cooker), and microwave blanching (800 W for 30 s). Blanched leaves were rapidly cooled, shadedried, powdered, and analysed for physical and biochemical properties including recovery percentage, moisture content, crude fibre, crude fat, total protein, total ash, total carbohydrate, ascorbic acid, total chlorophyll content, total carotenoids and total phenols. The results revealed that blanching treatments significantly influenced the physical and biochemical parameters of Moringa leaves. Microwave blanching (T4) emerged as the most effective pre-treatment, yielding the highest recovery percentage (22.81%), lowest moisture content (8.48%), and maximum retention of crude fibre (13.50%), total carbohydrates (42.00%) and carotenoids (114.48 mg/100g). Steam blanching (T3) and hot water blanching (T2) also showed significant improvements in nutrient retention compared to the control (T1). The control treatment exhibited the lowest recovery (17.94%) and highest moisture content (11.64%), highlighting the importance of blanching in reducing moisture and enhancing nutrient concentration. Microwave blanching also retained higher levels of total ash (12.38%), total protein (24.23%), ascorbic acid (115.61mg/100g), and total chlorophyll (299.80%) and crude fat (7.53%), making it the best pre-treatment method. Moringa leaves blanched by microwave blanching were subjected to different dehydration methods, including shade drying (23–31°C), cabinet drying (50±5°C), microwave oven drying (60°C), and vacuum drying (35±5°C). After drying, the leaves were powdered and analysed for physical (recovery percentage), biochemical (moisture content, crude fibre, crude fat, total protein, total ash, total carbohydrate, ascorbic acid, total chlorophyll content, total carotenoids and total phenols.), mineral (Fe, Ca and K), and antioxidant properties. The results demonstrated that dehydration methods significantly influenced the physical, biochemical, mineral, and antioxidant properties of Moringa oleifera leaves. Vacuum drying (T4) resulted in the highest recovery percentage (28.23%), total carbohydrate (48.00%), total protein (26.28%), total ash (22.42%), ascorbic acid (139.02 mg/100 g), and total phenols (160.91 mg GAE/100 g), while also exhibiting the highest antioxidant activity (IC₅₀: 3.82 mg/ml). Microwave drying (T3) recorded the highest total carotenoid content (119.43 mg/100 g) and retained notable amounts of crude fat (7.42%) and iron (13.34 mg/100 g). Cabinet drying (T2) yielded the highest crude fibre (9.70%) but the lowest crude fat (5.77%) and protein content (23.33%). Shade drying (T1) retained the highest total chlorophyll (324.41 mg/100 g) and crude fat (8.69%) but had the lowest recovery (24.28%) and total carbohydrate content (42.33%). Vacuum drying emerged as the most effective dehydration method, followed by microwave drying, due to their superior retention of key nutrients and antioxidant properties. The vacuum-dried whole leaf and leaf powder of Moringa were packaged using HDPE (200 gauge), LDPE (200 gauge), and polyethylene-laminated aluminium pouches and stored under ambient and refrigerated (4–6°C) conditions for three months. Biochemical, mineral, microbial, sensory, and antioxidant analyses were conducted at monthly intervals to evaluate storage effects. The results of the third experiment revealed that packaging materials and storage conditions significantly influenced the biochemical, mineral, antioxidant, microbial, and sensory properties of dried Moringa oleifera leaves over a three-month storage period. Leaf powder stored in polythene-laminated aluminium pouches under refrigerated conditions (T12) emerged as the most effective method, maintaining the lowest moisture content (5.95–6.02%), highest retention of total phenols (158.21– 159.63 mg GAE/100g), ascorbic acid (133.28–133.32 mg/100g), and total chlorophyll (357.66–390.53 mg/100g). In contrast, whole leaves stored in LDPE pouches under ambient conditions (T2) resulted in the highest moisture content (7.97–10.21%), significant nutrient degradation, and the lowest overall acceptability (5.72–6.57). Refrigerated storage also minimized microbial load, with T12 recording the lowest microbial count ( aerobic plate count - 0.40–2.00 × 10⁴ cfu/g), while ambient-stored samples (T2) exhibited the highest microbial growth (1.50–10.30 × 10⁴ cfu/g). Sensory evaluation confirmed that leaf powder stored in polythene laminated aluminium pouch under refrigeration (T12) retained superior sensory attributes, achieving the highest overall acceptability score (8.71) by the end of the storage period. Mineral content, including iron, calcium, and potassium, showed a gradual decline over time, with refrigerated storage (T7, T8, T9, T10, T11, T12) preserving higher levels compared to ambient storage. For instance, T7 (whole leaves stored in HDPE under refrigerated conditions) and T10 (leaf powder stored in HDPE under refrigerated conditions) retained the highest iron content (15.26–15.29 mg/100g), while T12 maintained the highest potassium content (0.86–0.92%). Antioxidant activity, measured by IC₅₀ values, also declined over time, with refrigerated samples (T12) exhibiting the lowest IC₅₀ values (4.59–6.03 mg/ml), indicating better retention of antioxidant potential compared to ambient-stored samples (T2) with IC50 value of 7.87–14.88 mg/ml. Overall, refrigerated storage in polythene-laminated aluminium pouches (T12) proved to be the most effective method for preserving the nutritional, sensory, and microbial quality of Moringa leaves, making it the preferred choice for long-term storage. The findings of the study revealed that Moringa leaves can be effectively preserved using microwave blanching, vacuum drying, and refrigerated storage in polythene-laminated aluminium pouches, maintaining their nutritional, sensory, and microbial quality for up to three months. The findings highlight the importance of advanced preservation and packaging techniques in retaining nutrient content and quality. Future research should focus on advanced preservation techniques, ecofriendly packaging, and scaling up production for commercial use. Additionally, exploring value-added products, nutrient bioavailability, and smart packaging technologies can enhance the sustainable utilization of Moringa leaves for global nutrition and food security.
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