The effects of the storage and different harvest times on post harvest quality of lavender (L.x intermedia var. Super A.)

This study was conducted with the aim of determining the effects of different storage conditions on the quality of lavender (Lx intermedia var. Super A.) grown in Adana and harvested at the beginning of flowering (25 May 2018), full flowering (5 June 2018) and end of flowering (28 June 2018) effects. For this purpose, water content (%), leaf content (%), lavender flower color, appearance, essential oil yield, essential oil components of lavender plants collected at different times were investigated. The dried lavenders were stored in a vacuum polyethylene bag for 12 months at 65% relative humidity, 4°C and 20°C. Physical and chemical analyzes such as flower color change (h°), antioxidant activity (%), total phenol content (mg gallic acid/L), total anthocyanin content (mg Cyanidin-3-glycoside/L) of lavender were performed during storage. Also, the essential oils obtained at different harvesting times were stored in a glass bottle at 4°C and oil component changes were examined in every 2 months. As a result of the analyzes, it was found that different harvest periods and storage conditions were effective on the examined quality parameters of the lavender When essential oil of Lavender (L.x intermedia var Super A.) plant grown in Adana conditions is preserved for 12 months at 4 ° C, the quality of the oil components is preserved, flowers were kept at 4 ° C for 12 months.