Selecting Suitable Postharvest Packaging Practices for Jin Banana

Banana (Musa spp.) is a widely consumed tropical fruit that is highly perishable, with significant postharvest losses due to rapid ripening and senescence. Effective postharvest packaging and treatments are crucial in extending the shelf life and preserving the quality of bananas. The study was conducted at Khulna University, Khulna, to evaluate the effectiveness of different postharvest packaging materials and treatments in prolonging the shelf life of banana. The banana fruits were packed in various packaging systems, including corrugated fiber boxes with silica gel (10g), corrugated fiber boxes with potassium permanganate (1g), corrugated fiber boxes with silica gel (10g) and potassium permanganate (1g), perforated polybags with silica gel (10g), perforated polybags with potassium permanganate (1g), perforated polybags with silica gel (10g) and potassium permanganate (1g). Untreated fruits were used as the control. The experiment followed a completely randomized design with four replications. Changes in physicochemical parameters, including weight loss, color change, firmness, and total soluble solids were recorded to assess the effectiveness of the packaging materials and treatments. Results indicated that packaging materials combined with silica gel or potassium permanganate significantly reduced weight loss, slowed down color changes, and preserved the texture and overall quality of banana. The study also found that the combination of corrugated fiber box with silica gel and potassium permanganate yielded the most favorable results.

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