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POST HARVEST MANAGEMENT OFPOST HARVEST MANAGEMENT OF

CUT FLOWERSCUT FLOWERS

PRESENTED BY:PRESENTED BY:

SHILPA.Y.ASHILPA.Y.AMK 833MK 833

III B.Sc (Ag.Maco)III B.Sc (Ag.Maco)

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A Cut Flower may be defined as flower or anA Cut Flower may be defined as flower or an

inflorescence containing more than one floralinflorescence containing more than one floral

unit in the opened or unopened state which isunit in the opened or unopened state which isharvested and marketed for ornamental.harvested and marketed for ornamental.

Cut flowers in general are highly perishableCut flowers in general are highly perishable

commodities and highly vulnerable to hugecommodities and highly vulnerable to hugepost harvest losses.post harvest losses.

Most of the cut flowers complete their life cycleMost of the cut flowers complete their life cycle

in two distinct phases. The first stage is ofin two distinct phases. The first stage is offlower bud growth and development of theflower bud growth and development of the

flower to full opening. The second stage isflower to full opening. The second stage is

maturation, senescence and wilting.maturation, senescence and wilting.

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Most of the cut flowers complete their life cycleMost of the cut flowers complete their life cycle

in two distinct phases. The first stage is ofin two distinct phases. The first stage is of

flower bud growth and development of theflower bud growth and development of the

flower to full opening. The second stage isflower to full opening. The second stage is

maturation, senescence and wilting.maturation, senescence and wilting.

Some of the cut flowers are, Anthurium, OrchidSome of the cut flowers are, Anthurium, Orchid

(tropical), Carnation, Chrysanthemum, Gerbera,(tropical), Carnation, Chrysanthemum, Gerbera,Roses, Tuberose, Gladiolus, Tulips, Marigold,Roses, Tuberose, Gladiolus, Tulips, Marigold,

Aster, Cymbidiums and Lillies.Aster, Cymbidiums and Lillies.

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Post Harvest Handling Chain Of Cut FlowersPost Harvest Handling Chain Of Cut Flowers

HARVESTINGHARVESTING

CONDITIONINGCONDITIONING

PRE-COOLINGPRE-COOLING

PULSINGPULSING

GRADINGGRADING

BUNCHINGBUNCHING

WRAPPINGWRAPPING

PACKING(WET OR DRY)PACKING(WET OR DRY)

STORAGE/TRANSITSTORAGE/TRANSIT

TRANSPORTTRANSPORT

SALESSALES

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HARVESTINGHARVESTING

Harvesting is the process of detaching flowersHarvesting is the process of detaching flowers

from the plant in a scientific way usingfrom the plant in a scientific way using

sterilized equipments.sterilized equipments.

Harvesting techniquesHarvesting techniques

Stage of maturity at harvest affects flowerStage of maturity at harvest affects flowerquality and longevity.quality and longevity.

Flowers can be harvested at;Flowers can be harvested at;

Bud stageBud stageWhen petals are fully open.When petals are fully open.

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CONDITIONINGCONDITIONING

Conditioning or hardening is a simple processConditioning or hardening is a simple process

where the flowers are kept or made to standwhere the flowers are kept or made to stand

loosely in a big container of water so the airloosely in a big container of water so the air

circulates around the stems.circulates around the stems.

The main purpose of this treatment is toThe main purpose of this treatment is to

restore turgidity of cut flowers after they haverestore turgidity of cut flowers after they have

suffered from water stress during handling insuffered from water stress during handling in

the field, greenhouse or during storage andthe field, greenhouse or during storage and

transport.transport.

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PRE-COOLINGPRE-COOLING

Packed or unpacked flowers have to pre-cooledPacked or unpacked flowers have to pre-cooled

before storage or shipment, Time betweenbefore storage or shipment, Time between

harvest and pre-cooling should be as short asharvest and pre-cooling should be as short as

possible.possible.

PULSINGPULSING

The absorption of chemical solution containingThe absorption of chemical solution containing

sugar and germicides trough the lower cutsugar and germicides trough the lower cut

portion of flower stems is known as pulsing.portion of flower stems is known as pulsing.

This treatment should be performed underThis treatment should be performed under

temperature of 20-25temperature of 20-2500 c at light intensity ofc at light intensity of

2000 lux.2000 lux.

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GRADINGGRADING

Damaged or diseased blooms have to beDamaged or diseased blooms have to be

discarded. Diseased flowers will contaminatediscarded. Diseased flowers will contaminate

others. Hence only good quality flowers shouldothers. Hence only good quality flowers should

be stored.be stored.

Grading is also done based on size, flowerGrading is also done based on size, flower

quality and also based on the standardsquality and also based on the standards

recommended for various cut flowers.recommended for various cut flowers.

BUNCHINGBUNCHING

Flowers should be bunched before storage andFlowers should be bunched before storage and

tying should be firm but not too tight.tying should be firm but not too tight.

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WRAPPINGWRAPPING

o Just before packing the flowers in cartons,Just before packing the flowers in cartons,

flowers are wrapped individually in thinflowers are wrapped individually in thin

polythene sleeves.polythene sleeves.

PACKINGPACKING

o Packing is done to protect flowers from physicalPacking is done to protect flowers from physicaldamage, waterloss and external conditionsdamage, waterloss and external conditions

during trans port.during trans port.

o

Packing can take many forms from flower cupsPacking can take many forms from flower cupsup to sleeves, boxes, bulk bins, sea and airup to sleeves, boxes, bulk bins, sea and air

containers.containers.

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STORAGESTORAGE There are two types of storage methods,There are two types of storage methods,

namelynamely Wet storage, where flowers are kept duringWet storage, where flowers are kept during

storage with their bases in water for shortstorage with their bases in water for shortperiod.period.

Dry storage, fresh flowers are harvested in theDry storage, fresh flowers are harvested in themorning, graded and sealed in plastic bags ormorning, graded and sealed in plastic bags orboxes for longer periods.boxes for longer periods.

SALESSALES The packed and safely transported flowersThe packed and safely transported flowersultimately reach the sales centers from whereultimately reach the sales centers from wherethe customers purchase them.the customers purchase them.

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