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

Abstract

Banana has a short storage life and is classified under climacteric fruit that produces enough ethylene in changing physico-chemical characteristics, including colour, texture, aroma, chemical composition, respiration rate and senescence. Besides that, the presence of microbes also contributes to the postharvest losses which can be reduced by implementing various postharvest management practices that are currently in practice all over the world. Research has been done in delaying ripening and maintaining the quality of banana such as hot water treatment, controlled atmosphere storage, modified atmosphere packaging and postharvest chemical treatments such as methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, acetylsalicylic acid or oxalic acid. However, not many focus on non-chemical method such as UV-C radiation. In line with that, this study aimed at evaluating the effects of UV-C radiation in delaying ripening and maintaining the postharvest quality of Berangan banana. Five treatments of UV-C radiation were used viz. 0.000 kJ/m², 0.004 kJ/m², 0.008 kJ/m², 0.012 kJ/m² and 0.016 kJ/m² with three replications. Postharvest parameters evaluated were percentage of weight loss (%), skin colour, starch pattern index (SPI), fruit firmness, soluble solids concentration (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), ascorbic acid (AA) and total phenolic content (TPC). The application of UV-C radiation did not significantly affect all postharvest parameters of treated Berangan bananas. However, UV-C radiation at 0.008 kJ/m2 tended to show the lower percentage weight loss and SPI score. In conclusion, 0.008 kJ/m² of UV-C radiation could be applied to delay ripening and maintaining other quality attributes of Berangan bananas. In addition, 0.008 kJ/m² UV-C also able to prolong the shelf life of Berangan bananas stored at 26±2°C/75% relative humidity up to nine days.