ISHS Acta Horticulturae 123: VI African Symposium on Horticultural Crops
STUDIES ON TWO CULTIVARS OF GHANAIAN PLANTAINS (MUSA AAB GROUP) IN RELATION TO FRUIT DEVELOPMENT AND COMPOSITION |
| Authors: | S.K. Karikari, G. Agyepong |
| Abstract:
Two cultivars of Ghanaian Plantains (Musa AAB Group) cvs Apantu and Apem were used to study their fruit development and composition. Using a sampling technique of removing individual fingers from growing bunches, fruit development has been studied for such characters as finger weight, length, cross-sectional diameter, peel and pulp rupture forces and ratios, percentage dry matter and chemical composition. There was a general increase in fruit development with age with positive linear correlations being established between age and finger weight, length, cross-sectional diameter and pulp/peel ratios. These parameters may be used to determine bunch maturity. The initial high starch and protein contents of the fruits were reduced as the bunch matured with starch being converted into sugars, and pulp protein being transferred into the peel. The mineral composition remained fairly constant but dry matter contents increased reaching a ceiling of about 40% at maturity. | |
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