Physiological and Chemical Changes during Ripening of Costa Rican Bananas Harvested in Different Seasons

Abstract

<jats:p>Mature green `Grande Naine' bananas (<jats:italic>Musa</jats:italic> AAA) were harvested 13 weeks after flowering in June and Sept. 1993 and Feb. and Mar. 1994 and were sent air freight to Raleigh, N.C. Fruit were held under 1) storage (36 days at 14 C and 80% to 90% relative humidity) or 2) ripening (8 days storage, followed by ethylene treatment on day 8 and subsequent storage at 17 °C and 80% to 90% relative humidity). Despite of similar grade and age, length of the preclimacteric phase (green life) was different between fruit harvested at different times of the year. Fruit harvested in February and March had a longer green life than those harvested in June and September. Rate of respiration best described changes that occurred during the postharvest life of bananas; however, variables such as pulp pH and soluble solids could be commercially useful measures. Once gassed with ethylene, ripening rates were similar between all four lots of fruit, indicating that seasonal variation probably doesn't contribute much to variability seen during ripening. Hand position in the bunch did not have a large influence on variability during ripening or storage.</jats:p>

EFFECTS OF UV-C RADIATION IN DELAYING RIPENING OF BERANGAN BANANA (Musa sp. AAA Berangan)

“…As banana ripen, a series of physiological and chemical changes occur such as the reduction in fresh weight, starch content, peel colour, fruit firmness, soluble solids concentration and organic acid percentage (Marin et al, 1996).…”

Effects of Harvest Maturity on Banana Quality

“…In bananas at a more mature stage, flesh firmness and starch content decrease whereas total sugars content and titratable acidity increase (Abdullah et ul. 1985;Munasque et al 1990). When harvested banana fruits are treated with ethylene, changes in flesh firmness and starch content occur at a rapid rate (Marin et al 1996).…”

“…1985;Munasque et al 1990). When harvested banana fruits are treated with ethylene, changes in flesh firmness and starch content occur at a rapid rate (Marin et al 1996). That information is consistent with ours.…”

“…The readings in kg-force were then multiplied by 9.801 to convert the unit to newton (N) (Kader 1982). Starch was analyzed according to McCready et al (1950). Total sugars content was determined employing the method outlined by Dubois et al (1956).…”

Scientific opinion on the import of Musa fruits as a pathway for the entry of non‐EU Tephritidae into the EU territory

“…Marin et al. (1996) reported that banana harvesting date has been based on either making a direct measure of fruit characteristics, such as the diameter of a finger on a bunch, or more simply the fruit age in number of weeks after flowering for many years. Cavendish bananas (AAA) are required to have a minimum diameter of 32 mm before being suitable for harvest and export, while ‘Goldfinger’ (AAAB) can be harvested at 36−39 mm (Brat et al., 2020).…”