Cryovac®-based shrink-wrap packaging to enhance storability of marigold flowers

Freshly harvested marigolds face a principal challenge of limited storability, typically 2–3 days, due to high perishability. In this study, an effort was made to identify optimal packaging material to prolong flower storability while preserving their quality under ambient (30 ± 2 °C) and cold (5 ± 1 °C) storage environments. Researchers tested five packaging materials, viz., muslin cloth, polypropylene woven bag, low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and cryovac® shrink-wrap in a factorial Completely Randomized Design. Shrink-wrap and HDPE are identified as the most effective alternatives against conventional packing material, extending storability to 19.0 and 18.5 days, respectively, in cold storage environment. Shrink-wrapped marigold flowers showed the longest storability of 4.5 days and 19.0 days under ambient and cold storage, respectively. The shrink-wrap also maintained flower diameter, brightness, moisture content, membrane stability index, carotenoid content and antioxidant enzyme activity, while reducing shrivelling, weight loss, and respiration rate. Enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase (0.70 Ug⁻¹ and 0.60 Ug⁻¹), catalase (1.28 Ug⁻¹ and 0.99 Ug⁻¹) and guaiacol peroxidase were highest under ambient and cold storage conditions, respectively at senescence and resulted in consequent delay of senescence. This study underscores the significant impact of shrink-wrap, not only on improving storability but also on preserving the physiological and biochemical attributes of marigold flowers over an extended period.