Relationship between bunch of banana 'prata' development at harvesting and postharvest fruit quality

Abstract

Harvest methods established for banana (Musa AAB) fruit like the verification of fruit diameter or disappearing of fruit angles are not adequate for Banana Prata cultivar because of its height and its irregular fruits in size and shape. Therefore, the aim of this work was to appoint the ideal age of harvest through flower emission. Banana 'Prata' bunches were harvested 90, 105, 120, 130 and 150 days after anthesis. Fruits from the second and third row of each bunch were stored at room conditions, and then, they were analyzed on three maturation stages (according to the development of peel color) for size, weight, pulp/peel ratio, pulp texture, pH, titrable acidity, starch and total soluble sugar contents. The results showed that fruits harvested 105 days after anthesis had quality similar to those harvested later. But, for the former, storage life was two to three times longer (29 days until full maturation) than the latter one.