Modified Atmosphere Packaging and Biodeterioration of Plantain

Abstract

Fruits of two local plantain cultivars and a disease-resistant tetraploid hybrid were subjected to modified atmosphere packaging. The same organisms namely Colletotricum musae, Botryodiplodia theobromae, Fusarium monilifomae, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus, were isolated from the local cultivars and the hybrid fruits. Pathogenicity tests showed that local cultivars were more susceptible to Botryodiplodia theobromae and Fusarium monilifomae, while the hybrid fruits were more susceptible to Colletotricum musae. It was observed that Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus isolated did not show any pathogenicity indicating that colonization of plantain fruits and its hybrids is metabiotic. At ambient temperature, there was delay in biodeterioration, ripening, and weight loss. This resulted into increased shelf life. The responses of the hybrid fruits to fungal attack and the physicochemical changes that took place had the same trend, with the fruits of the local cultivars showing that the hybrid will be a good substitute when it is eventually introduced as a cultivar. The most obvious advantage of modified atmosphere packaging is the extension of shelf life of plantain and plantain hybrid fruits without the use of chemical preservatives.


Int. J. Agric. Rural Dev., 2003, 4: 53-58