ISHS Acta Horticulturae 368: International Symposium on Postharvest Treatment of Horticultural Crops
SOME FACTORS AFFECTING BANANA STORAGE AND RIPENING: A CASE STUDY OF BANANA HANDLING AND RIPENING IN KENYA |
| Authors: | J.B. George, B.M. Mwangangi |
| Keywords: | bananas, handling, losses, ripening |
| Abstract:
The methods of handling, transporting and ripening of desert bananas, mostly from Uganda, were studied at Nakuru market, Kenya. Fruit bunches were transported in open trucks which had little or no linings. The methods of handling and transporting were found to be unsatisfactory. At Nakuru market, the fruits still on bunches were ripened in special ripening houses with temperatures and relative humidities of 22 °C to 27 °C and 50 to 60 percent, respectively. Under the above conditions ripening was initiated within a period of 3 to 4 days and the ripe fruits were of acceptable quality, though of short shelf-life. The data on postharvest losses determined during handling and ripening show that losses during transporting were lowest and highest both at the top and bottom of the trucks, respectively. The two major factors responsible for the losses were mechanical damage and transit ripening. Ripening losses were less than 2 percent. The data are discussed and suggestions made to improve future handling and ripening. | |
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