Jhanji, ShaliniVerma, Tunisha2019-12-142019-12-142019http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810137682The present investigation entitled “Evaluation of packaging material for improvement in keeping quality of marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) flowers” was conducted in the Department of Floriculture Landscaping and Department of Botany, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during the year 2018-19. The harvested flowers of marigold var. Punjab Gainda No-1 and Jafery were placed in different packaging materials (polythene, CFB box, ice box, bamboo basket, gunny bag and onion mesh bag) for different storage durations (0,1,2 and 3 days). After different treatments, the keeping quality of flowers under ambient conditions during summer, rainy and winter season was evaluated. The shelf life of marigold var. Punjab Gainda No-1 was recorded to be 1 day in summer season and 4 days in rainy season whereas Jafrey had shelf life of 3.66 days in rainy season and 6.00 days in winter season when stored in ice box. Highest shelf life was recorded in Jafery during winter season as compared to Jafrey in rainy season and Punjab Gainda No-1 in summer and rainy season which was supported by high membrane stability index, relative water content, total soluble protein content, total soluble sugar content, lesser loss in physiological weight, minimum spoilage and maximum freshness index of flowers in winter season. Comparison of two varieties in rainy season revealed better performance of Punjab Gainda No-1 than Jafrey in terms of all post-harvest quality, physiological and biochemical parameters. Among all the packages, ice box, CFB box and polythene packages showed better results in comparison to gunny bag and onion mesh bag. In regard to storage duration, one day storage was better in comparison to two and three days in all the seasons. The results pertaining to physiological and biochemical analysis supported the results of keeping quality parameters. Thus, marigold flowers can be packed in ice box, CFB box and polythene for 1 to 2 days without any adverse effect on keeping quality during rainy and winter season but only for 1 day during summer season with slight effect on its keeping quality.ennullThesis