as compared
to those flowers which were dried without embedding which scored only 1.16, 1.14 and 1.10 points for the same.
The flowers embedded in silica gel were found to produce good quality dry flowers as this desiccant prevents the
direct removal of moisture from flowers by acting as an intermediate. This prevents shrinkage of the flower and
degradation of colouring pigments, that could take place when petal tissues are exposed to high temperatures
without embedding. Interaction effect of cultivars and different mode of desiccation showed significant
difference on quality attributes of dried Dutch rose flowers. ‘Lambada’ dried by embedding in silica gel obtained
maximum score of 3.06, while least score (1.05) was given to flowers of ‘Ravel’ dried without embedding with
respect to retention of flower colour. The flowers of ‘Lambada’ dried by embedding in powdered silica gel
recorded the highest score of 2.95 points for appearance while the flowers of ‘Ravel’ dried without embedding in
hot air oven scored the lowest point of 0.94. Interaction effects of Dutch rose cultivars and mode of desiccation
on dry flower texture was best in ‘Lambada’ dried by embedding in silica gel which scored the maximum point
of 2.69. Least score (0.95) for texture was noticed in ‘Ravel’ without embedding. Silica gel method of flower
drying was reported excellent for retaining the colour of flowers (Champoux, 1997). Silica gel has been reported
to be the fastest acting desiccants (Naeve, 1996). The results of the present study were in harmony with the
aforesaid reports, wherein silica gel by acting as drying agent could produce better quality dry flowers