Comparative analysis of different packaging materials on the postharvest performance of banana fruits

An experiment was carried out to investigate the comparative analysis of different packaging materials on the postharvest performance of banana fruit. A laboratory experiment was laid out at Gokuleshwor Agriculture and animal science college in the month of March 2023. The experiment was conducted in a complete random design (CRD) with 5 treatments and 4 replications. The treatments were t1: control, t2: banana leaf, t3: straw, t4: polythene bag, t5: card box. The highest physiological weight loss (27.677 gm) was recorded at the control (Unpackage) whereas the lowest weight loss (12.61 gm) was recorded from the polythene bag. The maximum value of TSS was recorded on fruits treated in a polyethylene bag (15.325 ˚Brix) whereas the minimum value of TSS was recorded in the control (12.725 ˚Brix). Titrable acidity was found to be highest in polythene bags (0.318) and lowest in cardboard and control (0.2437), titrable acidity decreasing as the ripening advances. Pulp firmness shows a decreasing pattern. The changes were observed faster on control all days, and a slower decrease in pulp firmness was observed in the polythene bag. As ripening advances banana pulp thickness shows an increased trend over the storage period. On 16 days higher pulp thickness was found in the control (2.78cm), whereas lower pulp thickness was found in the polythene bag (2.70 cm). As seeing the overall trend, the pulp thickness seems to be increased with time. As ripening advances banana peel thickness shows decreased trend over the storage period. On 16 days higher peel thickness was found in polythene (0.444 cm) whereas lower peel thickness was found in the control (0.41 cm). Therefore, it is clear that banana fruits packaged in polythene bags demonstrated remarkable quality and shelf life when compared to alternative packaging materials.