Effect of Storage Time and Room Temperature on Physicochemical and Geometric Properties of Banana (Musa Spp.) Fruit
1. Introduction Banana(Musa spp.) fruit is the most popular fresh fruit in all over the world. It is the major fruit crop grown in many developed and developing countries [1]. Bananas is the most commonly consumed fruits and it has great importance to small-scale farmers in the developing countries of the tropics and subtropics [2]. [3] stated that banana is the world’s second most important fruit crop after oil palm. About 87% of the entire bananas grown worldwide are produced by small-scale farmers for consumption or sale to local and regional markets [4]. This makes banana to be the prime leading fruit crop in terms of volume and value in the world market [5]. In most world countries both developed and developing production of banana fruits becoming more due to its benefit. In 2020, bananas production for southwest Asia continent countries like Viet Nam was 2.19 million tonnes and its production of increased from 470,000 tonnes in 1971 to 2.19 million tonnes in 2020 growing at an average annual rate of 3.37% [6]. According to [7], in Ethiopia about 107,890.60 hectares of land is covered by fruit crops. From these bananas contributed about 58.59% of the fruit crop area followed by avocados which contributed 16.53% of the area. Fruits and vegetables are universally considered vital elements in a healthy diet. Like other fruits and vegetables, banana fruits are the most popular fruit and one of the world’s most important staple foods, along with rice, wheat, and maize [8]. Not only they provide crucial vitamins and proteins, but also have health-giving qualities [9]. It is a good source of potassium, magnesium, copper, manganese, vitamin C and B6. Banana is also a good source of energy, low in protein and fat content, and has several medicinal properties [10]. Due to its attractive texture, good glucose sugar and flavor bananas are popular by consumers. Banana (Musa spp.) is a highly perishable fruit. The perishability of the banana fruit is attributed to immense physiological changes after harvest [11]. The port of total postharvest loss on bananas is considered to be 30-40 % [12]. Postharvest pest and diseases affect a wide variety of banana fruit that lack appropriate postharvest storage facilities, particularly in developing countries. Infection by fungi and bacteria may occur during the growing season, at harvest time, during handling, storage, transport, and marketing, or even after purchase by the consumer 26.5% of which 56% of the loss occurred at the retail level due to rotting before reaching to consumers in Ethiopia [13]. Temperature is the most important environmental factor that influences the deterioration of harvested climacteric fruit. It has been shown that temperature has a profound effect on the rates of biological reactions [14]. Physical injuries to the produce must be avoided wherever possible during the handling and distribution of fruits [15]. Postharvest losses are one of the concerns of food security and poverty reduction strategies in many developing countries including Ethiopia and Vietnam [16]. Banana fruit contains low fat, an excellent source of dietary fiber, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and manganese[17]. The presence of potassium and fiber in large amounts in bananas also helps to combat atherosclerosis, which can lead to heart attack and stroke [18]. Since banana fruits are highly perishable in nature they undergo many physiological and biochemical changes that lead to ripening and senescence. According to [19] in developing and developed countries banana fruit is considered to be the best of all fruit crops because of its excellent flavor, attractive fragrance, beautiful peel color, delicious taste, and nutritional value. Despite its nutritional and health importance, there is a huge postharvest loss of this fruit due to its perishable nature. However properties and shelf life of bananas can be extended by controlling storage temperature and food industries can use it during scarcity to consume and produce different products. To reduce postharvest loss and to increase the shelf life, efforts are needed to develop postharvest technologies to manage storage temperatures that are not health hazardous and would suit the climatic and socio-economic conditions of countries [20]. Therefore, appropriate temperature management is the most important tool for extending shelf life and maintaining the quality of banana fruit as well preservephysico-chemical and geometric properties. Therefore this study aims to investigate the effect of storage time and room temperature on physico-chemical and geometric properties of banana fruits. 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS Description study of the area The experiment was conducted in the Viet Nam national University of Agriculture (VNUA) at the laboratory of Food Processing and technology. Sample collection and preparation Unripe and free from any defects banana fruits were purchased from the supermarket around VNUA in University Viet Nam from the producer and it was transported into the food science laboratory at VNUA. After it was transported into the laboratory, it put at room temperature and relative humidity (22°C–28°C and 82%–85% RH) according to (Opara et al,.2012; Ahmad et al.,2006). During the determination of physicochemical and geometric properties, banana fruits were cut at 2 cm and hardness and penetration were determined. Experimental design and treatment application The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with four replications considering storage at room temperature and storage time by using Minitab software version 16. The factors consisted of (1) storage time and (2) room temperature and eighteen banana fruits were used. Data were collected Physiological Weight loss The percentage of physiological weight loss was determined by using the methods of [21]. Weight loss of fruits was calculated from the initial weight of fruits per treatment and at each storage interval period. It was determined using a sensitive balance (type JD2000-2). Fruit weight daily variation from the initial measurement was expressed as a weight loss %. Weight loss (%) = Initial weight − final weight × 100 Initial Weight Hardness and penetration The hardness and penetration with peel and without peel were measured by using a textural analyzer instrument according to [22]. During the measurement of hardness and penetration of banana fruits with … Read more