Ethylene Removal by Bio-filters in order to Increase Storage Life of Bananas

Abstract

Ethylene gas is the simplest plant hormone and cause a variety of physiological effects in plants. This hormone is known as the hormone of aging, due to the hormonal effect on fruit maturation, leaf loss and separation of the fruit from the branches, changing color as fruit maturation because of chlorophyll loss, fruit firmness. Increased ethylene in fruit storage media creates the right conditions for growth of microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the removal of ethylene by bio-filters to extend the shelf-life of fruits was studied at laboratory scale. Samples were evaluated organoleptic (sensory) and after preparing the best filter, filter efficient were used scale of operation (used in fruit cartons). Removal of ethylene gas by Gas chromatograph system showed that the amount of gas passing through the column 4 substrates including active sludge, peat wood chips, humus with organic soil was 0.6528 ml (ethylene) / L (air) in comparison to the other columns, and control sample. Results showed that the bio-filters with isolated bacteria in this study can be used to the removal of ethylene gas and increase shelf life of fruit postharvest storage conditions.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijls.v9i5.12696