Standardization of packaging material, storage durations and chemical treatments on vase life of soft shield fern Polystichum squarrosum (D. Don)

Polystichum species, native to warm-temperate and montane-tropical environments (including some alpine regions), are terrestrial or rock-dwelling ferns. These plants exhibit dark green, leather-like, and lustrous fronds, which are highly valued in floral arrangements due to their aesthetic elegance and longevity. Polystichum squarrosum is not being cultivated commercially but collected from forests for its use as cut green in the florist industry. Hence the collected material should be handled carefully to utilize every frond. Therefore, the present study aimed to develop suitable post-harvest handling procedures for this valued cut green. A Completely Randomized Design (CRD) Factorial layout with 19 treatment modules (M0 to M18) was employed. Treatment modules included packaging material as poly mesh net bags and packing materials as corrugated fiberboard boxes , two storage durations (3 and 6 days) and chemical treatments [glycerol (4%) and Benzyl adenine (25mg L-1)]. Results revealed that spraying cut fronds with 4% glycerol, wrapping them in cellophane sheets and storing them for three days (M9) resulted in significant improvements in appearance, weight change, vase life and water uptake. Fronds from Season-II (March-April 2020) exhibited excellent performance over Season-I (August-September 2019). The interaction between M9 and Season-II further enhanced the postharvest parameters. The combination of glycerol treatment and cellophane wrapping for three-day storage proved most effective in preserving the quality of cut fronds.