Postharvest Management and Value Addition of Ornamental Crops: Strategies for Shelf-Life Extension and Economic Enhancement
Integrating Preservation Technologies with Value Chain Optimization
Keywords:
Cold chain, Ethylene, Floriculture, Ornamental crops, Postharvest management, Reactive oxygen species, Senescence, Vase-life, Value-additionAbstract
Ornamental crops constitute a high-value component of horticulture but are highly perishable, resulting in substantial postharvest losses estimated at 30–40% under conventional supply chains. These losses arise from complex interactions among physiological, biochemical, and environmental factors, including respiration, ethylene sensitivity, water imbalance, and oxidative stress. This review critically synthesizes existing literature on postharvest physiology and management of ornamental crops, highlighting key determinants of senescence and evaluating current technologies for shelf-life extension. Comparative analysis of studies indicates that no single factor governs deterioration; rather, integrated effects of carbohydrate depletion, ethylene action, and xylem blockage collectively influence vase life. Postharvest interventions such as pre-cooling, pulsing with preservative solutions, and maintenance of cold chain systems have demonstrated significant effectiveness, although their adoption remains limited by infrastructural constraints.
Value addition emerges as a complementary strategy to reduce losses and enhance profitability through conversion of flowers into dried products, essential oils, pigments, and nutraceuticals. However, lack of standardization, technical knowledge, and market linkages restricts large-scale implementation. Emerging approaches, including nanotechnology-based coatings, eco-friendly preservatives, and smart packaging systems, offer promising avenues but require further validation for commercial application.
The review identifies critical research gaps in integrated postharvest management and sustainable value addition, emphasizing the need for cost-effective, eco-friendly technologies and improved supply chain infrastructure to enhance the competitiveness of the floriculture sector.
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