Abstract:
The effect of biodegradable ethylene scrubbers on extending storage life by
reducing ripening of „Ambul‟ banana (Musa acuminata, „Mysore‟ subgroup,
AAB group) was investigated. Among many techniques to remove ethylene
and delay banana ripening during freight and storage, few are economical
and eco-friendly. This preliminary study examined the possibility of
impregnating determined concentrations of ethylene scrubber substances, i.e.
activated charcoal (AC), potassium permanganate (PPM) and titanium
dioxide (TD), into paper board made of banana fibre, a natural resource
underutilized in Sri Lanka. All paper types, pure and impregnated, showed
varying degrees of ethylene absorption over the 21 days of gas analysis in
the in-vitro study, among which, the best absorption was by the PPM paper
(95% of initial ethylene reduced by day 21). Quality analysis, for banana
fruits of the in-vivo study was conducted on days 4, 7 and 10 of ambient and
cold storage at 13.5oC and 80% RH. Bananas stored with AC paper showed
delayed ripening until day 4, followed by accelerated ripening. Sensory
analysis for the fruits stored with AC paper under cold room conditions
revealed that consumer preference for their flesh colour, taste and overall
acceptability was significantly higher (at α= 0.05) than that for the control
bananas. In the sensory analysis for banana fruits stored with TD paper under
ambient conditions, a significant preference (at α= 0.05) was observed only
for the peel colour. The quality analysis of the banana stored at ambient
temperature with TD paper showed no significant difference to that of the
control banana (except for skin colour on day 7). Further studies are needed
to be carried out to get a feasible conclusion.
