Physical and mechanical properties of green banana ( Musa paradisiaca) fruit

Abstract

The physical and mechanical properties of two varieties of green banana fruit, namely, Dwarf Scavendish and Nendran, were determined. The average pulp and peel moisture content were 264.17% (db) and 666.28% (db), respectively for Dwarf Scavendish and 153.39% (db) and 516.41% (db), respectively for Nendran. At these average moisture contents, the average pulp to peel ratios were 1.39 and 2.32, and peel thickness were 3.65 mm and 2.95 mm, respectively. The maximum diameter of fruit without peel was 23.34 mm and 37.08 mm, and average pulp specific gravity was 0.993 and 1.110, respectively for the two varieties. The maximum effective length and width of the banana pulp resting at its most stable position was observed to be 137.0 mm and 66.5 mm, respectively for Dwarf Scavendish and 194.5 mm and 50.0 mm, respectively for Nendran. The maximum load required to cut a cross-sectional slice of pulp was 22.4 N and 28.2 N for the two varieties, respectively. Maximum energy of 686.81 J/m 2 for Dwarf Scavendish and 724.46 J/m 2 for Nendran was required to cut a slice of the fruit. The banana kept in a convex position required the most energy to cut, whereas the plain position was observed to be the best position vis-à-vis the energy requirement and consumer preference of chip shape.