Development of postharvest management practices for quality essential oil production of Cymbopogon flexuosus (Nees ex Steud.) W. Watson. Issue 6 (2nd November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Upadhyay, Rakesh Kumar; Singh, Ved Ram; Verma, Ram Swaroop; Padalia, Rajendra Chandra; Kumar, Rakesh; Chauhan, Amit; Tewari, S.K.
• Is Part Of: Journal of essential oil research. Volume 31:Issue 6(2019)
• Page Start: 556
• Page End: 561
• Publication Date: 2019-11-02
• Subjects: Cymbopogon flexuosus (Nees ex Steud.) W. Watson -- lemongrass -- postharvest storage -- essential oil content -- citral content; Essences and essential oils -- Periodicals; Oils, Volatile -- Periodicals; Plant Oils -- Periodicals; 547.71
• DOI: 10.1080/10412905.2019.1610517
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1041-2905

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Cymbopogon flexuosus (Nees ex Steud.) W. Watson, commonly known as lemongrass, is a member of Cymbopogon genus renowned for their highly prized essential oils for flavor and fragrance industries. A field experiment was conducted to standardize the postharvest storage practices for a prevalent high oil yielding cultivar 'Krishna' of lemongrass during 2014–2015 and 2015–2016 under open field, shade, and ventilated room; up to 10 days after harvest. Results revealed significantly higher essential oil content (1.14%) for freshly distilled herb as compared to stored herbs under different condition.The highest geranial and neral ratio (1.45 to 1.58) recorded in essential oil i.e. distilled at first day of harvest (T1 ) as compared to 1.37 to 1.44 in essential oil i.e. distilled at 10th day of harvest (T10 ). In conclusion, C flexuosus should preferably be distilled as fresh i.e. same day of harvest for higher yield of quality essential oil.