Effects of Different Concentrations of Chitosan on Shelf Life and Quality of Banana Fruit

Abstract

The experiment was aimed to investigate the effect of different concentrations of chitosan on shelf life and quality of banana fruit. The single factor experiments were laid out in a completely randomized design with three replications. Experimental treatments included Control, 0.50%, 0.75%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0% chitosan. Sabri Banana cultivar is one of the most popular commercial cultivars of banana in Bangladesh. Chitosan treatment caused highly significant variation in respect of the physico-chemical parameters such as color changes, firmness, weight loss, disease severity and shelf life of banana during storage. Considering the effects of different concentrations of chitosan, 0.75% and 2.0% chitosan were found to be the best in respect of all the parameters investigated. Fruits treated with the above concentrations of chitosan, had the longest shelf life (9 days), whereas fruits under control had the shortest shelf life (8 days). The application of chitosan treatment in fresh crops is safe for consumers and for the environment. It can be used to improve postharvest quality and to extend shelf life of banana.