3. Results and Discussion
The data pertaining to different parameters viz., dry weight, moisture loss, time taken for drying, flower colour,
appearance and texture recorded during standardizing the temperature and time for drying of Dutch rose flowers
in hot air oven are presented in Tables 1 to 3.
3.1 Standardization of the Temperature and Time Required for Drying of Dutch Rose Flowers in Hot Air Oven
3.1.1 Effect of Temperature and Different Mode of Desiccation in Hot Air Oven
The dry weight, moisture loss, time taken for drying and quality attributes of flowers dried at three different
temperature levels viz. 30°C, 40°C and 50°C with and without embedding in silica gel and are presented in Table 1.
Both dry weight and moisture loss as influenced by temperature and mode of desiccation did not differ
significantly. The time taken for drying of rose flowers decreased as the temperature of the oven was increased
from 30°C to 50°C. Among the temperature levels, drying of Dutch rose flowers in hot air oven at a temperature of
50°C took minimum time (39.40 hours), while drying at a temperature of 30°C took maximum time (80.72 hours).
Time taken was least in case of flowers dried at 50°C due to faster removal of moisture at higher temperature.
Maximum time was required at 30°C due to slow elimination of moisture. Significant differences were seen for
quality of dried flowers due to temperature levels and mode of desiccation. Less time was taken by non-embedding
method (52.32 hours) to dry the Dutch rose flowers when compared to flowers dried by embedding in silica gel
(61.05 hours). Drying the flowers without embedding medium was desiccated at a faster rate when compared to
drying with desiccants, irrespective of temperature levels for drying. Among the interaction effects, minimum time
(36.32 hours) was taken by non-embedded drying at a temperature of 50°C, while maximum time was recorded by
embedding at 30°C (88.34 hours) to dry the flowers. Embedded drying at 30°C required maximum duration
compared to direct exposure of flowers to hot air oven at the same temperature level