Effect of modified atmosphere packaging and storage duration on keeping quality of gladiolus spikes

Gladiolus has elegant spikes with bright florets and good keeping quality. The storage of spikes during production period will be beneficial for the farmers during low production period. Thus, the present study was planned to investigate the effect of long term modified atmosphere storage on gladiolus spikes. The spikes of gladiolus cv. Alexander the Great, harvested at tight bud stage, were treated with sucrose (20%) + aluminum sulphate (300 ppm) for 20 h followed by sealing in LDPE and PP sleeves (25 mu m) with and without perforations and stored vertically at 3-4 degrees C for 0, 6, 12 and 18 days. After storage, vase-life was evaluated. The basal florets opened in all sleeves after 18 days of storage. Increase in storage duration hastened the opening of basal florets, whereas packaging did not affect significantly. Vase-life, opening of florets (%), floret diameter and physiological weight declined with increase in storage duration.