Combined Effects of 1-MCP and Export Packaging on Quality and Shelf-life of Cavendish Banana (Musa sp.)

Abstract

The effect of four concentration levels of 1-methylcyclopropene-1-MCP (17.5µl/L), 10.5µl/L, 3.5 µl/L and  0 µl/L or untreated control) in combination with three levels of export standard banana packaging materials with modified atmosphere (MA) storage effect was investigated under ambient conditions (22+1 °C and 80 + 5% RH) on shelf life and physicochemical quality attributes of Cavendish banana (Musa AAA Group, Cavendish Subgroup, cultivar ‘Poyo’, syn: ‘Robusta’). 1-MCP treatment with increased levels of concentration and increased levels of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) generally extended shelf life and maintained better quality of fresh banana fruits when applied separately and in combination. The longest shelf life (36 days) with the lowest changes in physicochemical properties was obtained when fruits were kept in corrugated cardboard boxes with inner sealed or non-perforated  polyethylene bags (PEP) after treatment with the highest concentration of 1-MCP 17.5µl/L. This could be credited to the higher inhibitory effect of 1-MCP on both the synthesis and action of ethylene when applied at the stated level of concentration and the stronger modified atmosphere (MA) condition created by the inner non-perforated PEP kept within the corrugated cardboard boxes. Thus, this technique could be considered as a less sophisticated and less costly postharvest handling alternative (storage and transportation) under ambient conditions to the temperature controlled (14^oC) reefer container-based system currently employed in Ethiopia and elsewhere for fresh banana exports.

Keywords: Cavendish banana; 1-Methylecyclopropene (1-MCP), export standard packaging; shelf-life, physicochemical quality