lost at a faster rate. Least time of 52.32 hours was taken by flowers dried by non-embedding method when
compared to flowers dried by embedding in silica gel (61.05 hours). Among the interaction effects, minimum
time of 52.07 hours was taken by ‘Lambada’ dried without embedding method, while maximum time was
recorded by ‘Ravel’ (61.56 hours) dried by embedding in powdered silica gel. Faster dehydration was due to low
moisture content in the flowers of cv. ‘Lambada’ combined with quick dehydration action of silica gel. Time
taken for drying of flowers of cv. ‘Lambada’ was shorter in both modes of desiccation compared to other
cultivars. This may be due to low moisture content in the flowers of Lambada coupled with rapid dehydration
due to papery structure of flowers. The retention of colour, appearance and texture of dried Dutch rose flowers
was significant with respect to mode of desiccation and cultivars. Among the different cultivars evaluated, dry
flowers of ‘Lambada’ scored maximum points (2.17) with respect to retention of colour, whereas least score of
1.91 points was recorded in ‘Ravel’. The highest acceptability for appearance (2.14) was recorded in ‘Lambada’
whereas ‘Ravel’ scored least (1.79) points for appearance. ‘Lambada’ had good texture and received maximum
rating of 1.95, whereas ‘Ravel’ obtained minimum rating of 1.63 with respect to flower texture. Similarly Datillo
(2001) reported that rose colours that dry well and retain bright colour include orange, medium and dark yellow,
medium red, medium and dark pink. Dark red tends to turn black and light pink becomes pale. Same result was
obtained in the present investigation wherein ‘First Red’ turned darker and cv. ‘Ravel’ showed a pale colour on
drying. The results of sensory evaluation for dry flower qualities revealed that the flowers which were embedded
and dried scored higher points for retention of colour (2.92), appearance (2.79) and texture (2.51),