Abstract: This study aimed to choose a scientific and reasonable drying method to reduce the quality changes and nutritional losses in Rosa roxburghii Tratt. pomace during preservation. The material was dried by three different drying methods: hot air drying, far-infrared drying and vacuum drying, and the drying processes were investigated by mathematical modeling to select the optimal one. The results showed that the Midilli-Kucuk model presented a high correction coefficient (R2), and minimum χ2, SSE and RMSE values, and it could exactly describe and predict all the drying processes above with the highest degree of fitting. In summary, far-infrared drying at 50 ℃ was found to be the best among these drying methods, giving the best quality characteristics, namely, a brightness value L* of 44.12, and a color difference value of 6.87, a water reabsorbing capacity of 7.53, a VC loss rate of 20.54% and a flavone content of 1.97 mg/g.

Key words: Rosa roxburghii Tratt. pomace, hot air drying, far-infrared drying, vacuum drying, quality