3.2.3 Effect of Cultivars and Different Time Levels in Microwave Oven
There was no significant difference in dry weight and moisture loss as influenced by cultivars and different time
levels (Table 6). Among the four cultivars, maximum rating for colour of 2.20 points was received by ‘Lambada’.
Least score (1.92) for flower colour was recorded in ‘Ravel’. Maximum score of 2.16 points for appearance was
received by ‘Lambada’. Least score (1.81) for appearance was recorded in ‘Ravel’. The flowers of ‘Lambada’
received the maximum score of 1.97 for flower texture, while the least score was recorded in flowers of ‘Ravel’
which scored only 1.67 points. The variation among the cultivars may be owed to the characteristic feature of the
cultivar. Significant differences were noticed due to different time levels in microwave oven in which highest
score for flower colour (2.42) was recorded in flowers dried for 2.5 minutes, while the least score (1.67) was
recorded in flowers dried for 3 minutes. Highest score for appearance (2.39) was recorded in flowers dried for 2.5
minutes, while the least score (1.63) was recorded in flowers dried for 3 minutes. It was observed that drying for a
period of 2.5 minutes in microwave oven scored maximum rating of 2.29 for flower texture, while the flowers
dried for 3 minutes, scored only 1.29 points. The principle behind the microwave oven drying is liberating
moisture by agitating water molecules in the organic substances with the help of electronically produced
microwaves. Drying is exceptionally fast and gets completed within a few minutes and generates little heat
(Bhattacharjee & De, 2003). Interaction between cultivars and different time levels in microwave oven for quality
parameters was found to be significant. The flowers of ‘Lambada’ dried for 2.5 minutes scored maximum rating of
2.53 points with respect to flower colour, 2.56 points with respect to appearance and 2.41 points for flower texture.