STORAGE OF BANANA BUNCHES IN SEALED POLYETHYLENE TUBES

Bunches of banana cv. Williams were obtained on seven occasions over a two year period from Coffs Harbor, New South Wales and treated with 0.1% benomyl to reduce rotting.  Treatments were randomly applied to the bunches as follows:  (I) No treatment, (II) Sealed in a polyethylene tube (thickness 0.1 mm).  (III) Sealed in a polyethylene tube (thickness 0.1 mm) containing 100g vermiculite impregnated with a saturated solution of potassium permanganate to remove ethylene.  The bunches were held on each occasion at either 28, 20, or 13^oC.  The average storage life was increased 2-3 times (over control) when the bunches were held in sealed polyethylene tubes and increased 3-4 times when an ethylene absorbent was packed with the bunch in the polyethylene tubes.  The use of the sealed polyethylene tubes and ethylene absorbent allowed a storage life of up to six weeks at 20-28^oC and 16 weeks at 13^oC.

Source:

Shashirekha Satyan, K.J. Scott and D. Graham
CSIRO Food Research Laboratory, North Ryde, Australia

Complete report available upon request