A way forward for a sustainable active packaging solution for prolonging the freshness and shelf life of Rosa hybrida L. cut flowers.

The study aimed to develop a paper-based approach as part of anti-microbial packaging to extend the shelf life of
fresh-cut roses. To achieve this, a synergistic solution was developed from a mixture of bay, fenugreek, and
lemon extract. A 1:1:1 ratio with an additional 3 % sucrose. It was found effective against Pseudomonas fluorescens,
Salmonella typhimurium, and Enterobacter cloacae, which are the primary microorganism responsible for
the spoilage of rose flowers. GCMS analysis shows that the presence of eugenol, oleic acid, ascorbic acid, caryophyllene,
´a-bisabolene, methyl eugenol, ´a-curcumene, humulene, and allene compounds contributed to the
anti-microbial and antioxidant properties of the active matrix. The developed active matrix was coated on a kraft
paper called Freshness Keeper (FK). FK paper was subjected to various characterization techniques, such as SEM,
FTIR, and GCMS. The study revealed that the mechanical and barrier properties of the paper remained largely
unchanged, except for the % elongation break and water absorptiveness. These changes were observed following
the paper’s coating with the matrix. The results suggest that the coating has the potential to affect the physical
properties of the paper. To assess its effectiveness on the vase life and physiochemical characteristics of Rosa
hybrida L. cut flowers were tested. The control flowers (without FK) displayed signs of wilting, color change, and
bacterial growth after 10–12 d of storage at 2–4 ℃ with 85 % relative humidity. In contrast, the FK-wrapped
flowers showed similar signs after 18–20 d of storage, effectively enhancing shelf life by an additional 8–10 d.
Furthermore, the FK maintained the freshness and diameter of the cut rose bunches, while simultaneously
maintaining the petal moisture content, petal color, and sensory attributes and controlling ethylene production.
These results suggest that extending the shelf life of fresh-cut roses can reduce postharvest losses and add value to
the flower industries, both domestically and in export markets.