Shelf life and quality of banana cultivar Nendran as influenced by shrink–wrap packaging and storage temperature

Abstract

Banana is the most widely cultivated fruit crop in Kerala. Nendran, a dual purpose cultivar is grown for consumption as vegetable in the unripe stage and also as fruit, upon ripening. An experiment was conducted during 2019-20 to extend the shelf life of this fruit through shrink wrapping, followed by storage under ambient and cool chamber conditions, after sanitizing with chlorine (100 ppm) followed by treatment with alum (1 %) and subsequently dipping in the fungicide, Carbendazim 50 WP (0.1 %). Initial titratable acidity and ascorbic acid contents of Nendran banana were 0.16 % and 6.06 mg 100g-1 respectively. Total phenols and starch content of freshly harvested green Nendran banana were 145 mg 100g-1 and 84.0 % respectively. Shelf life of shrink wrapped fruits held in cool chamber could be extended to 45 days whereas the unwrapped fruits under ambient storage (control) became unmarketable after 7 days. The findings of the study revealed that physiological loss in weight and rate of respiration recorded an upward trend during storage while fruit firmness recorded a downward trend. Total soluble solids, titratable acidity and ascorbic acid rose with advancement of storage duration whereas total phenols and starch content declined. . The developed protocol could be used for long distance transportation to distant markets for internal trade as well as for shipment to foreign markets.