Improvement on storage of banana ( Musa sp. cv. Mas) under modified atmosphere

H. Abdullah, M. A. Rohayaand J. Mohd. Yunus

 

Abstract

 

Improvement studies on a storage method for the banana cv. Mas under modified atmosphere were carried out. Fruit at maturity stage of 7–8 weeks from flower emergence were dehanded, washed, dipped in 500 ppm benomyl and dried before packing into low density polyethylene (LDPE) bags in corrugated fibreboard boxes. The weight of banana in the bags were either 5 kg or 10 kg. Treatments included precooling at 8 °C, the use of ethylene absorbent in storage bags and partial evacuation of air before tight sealing of bags. Storage temperature was 14 °C. After 4 weeks, the fruit packed in 10 kg/box developed CO₂  injury, whereas no such injury was detected with fruit packed in 5 kg/box even after 6 weeks of storage. The occurrence of CO₂ injury was influenced by the content of CO₂, O₂ and C₂H₄ inside the LDPE bags. Packing of banana either in the form of hands or clusters did not influence the final quality of the fruit.

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