Postharvest Responses of 'Malindi' Cavendish Banana to Various Storage Conditions

Abstract

'Malindi' banana (Musa,'Dwarf Cavendish') was stored at three storage conditions (11-12°C and 95.5% RH; 20-22°C and 82-85% RH; and cyclic cooling and warming to simulate day/night conditions during the banana harvest season: 28°C and 50% RH/18°C and 70% RH). Fruit storage life was 21, 10, and 8 days in the refrigerated storage, normal room storage, and storage under cyclic day/night conditions, respectively. Fruit ripening, respiration, and ethyelene production were significantly higher at high temperature storage and cyclic day/night conditions leading to faster fruit deterioration. Under these storage conditions, the rate of fruit weight loss, firmness, vitamin C loss, and chlorophyll degradation was also higher compared to refrigeration. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.