Evaluation of Changes in Biochemical Parameters of Banana (Musa Spp.) Stored in Polypropylene Packagings.

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of polypropylene packaging on biochemical parameters of plantain. Two varieties of banana (French 2 and Corne 1) harvested at 70 and 75 days after floral apparition have been stored at 25 °C in 0.235 and 0.303 mm thick polypropylene (PP) packaged. Biochemical characteristics such as pH, titratable acidity, ripening stage, moisture content, ash, reducing sugars and starch content were determined. The results showed that Polypropylene packaging stabilized the biochemical characteristics of plantain. The result about French 2 indicated stability of parameters between the 12 th and 14 th day of storage in the bags of 0.235 mm thickness and 18 th and 20 th day of storage in the bags of 0.303 mm thickness. However, for Corne 1 variety, the parameters were stable between 10 th and 12 th days of storage and 16 th and 18 th days respectively in packages of thickness 0.235 and 0.303mm. Significant differences were not observed for the same treatment at maturity levels of 70 th and 75 th days. The stability time of the physicochemical characteristics of French 2 variety is significantly longer.