Citation:Siriwardana, H.L.S., Abeywickrama, K., Kannangara, S. and Jayawardena, B. 2015. Effect of alum in combination with vacuum packaging in extending the shelf life of Embul banana, p. 186, In: Proceedings of the International Postgraduate Research Conference 2015 University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, (Abstract), 339 pp.
Date:2015
Abstract:
Crown rot disease is the major post harvest disease in Embul banana causing severe post
harvest loss both in terms of quality and quantity. Due to hazardous effects of fungicides, use
of eco-friendly methods of controlling crown rot disease are being investigated throughout
the world. In this study, efficacy of alum (sodium aluminium sulphate) in combination with
vacuum packaging was investigated in extending the shelf life of Embul banana at cold
temperature.
Approximately 85-day mature Embul banana hands were washed with 1% alum (w/v)
solution and control was washed only in water. Treated and control fruits were packed in
Low density polyethylene bags, air inside bags were removed using a vacuum and placed in
fibre board cartons and stored in a cold room at 12-14 ºC. Each treatment comprised 8
replicate boxes each with 5 hands. In-package gases were analysed on initial day and every
seven days thereafter up to 28 days of storage. Physicochemical and sensory properties and
crown rot disease severity (CRS) were determined in ripened fruits after each storage period.
Medium (50 kg) and large scale (100 kg) test marketing trials were conducted at fruit outlets
in Dambulla and Kiribathgoda, Sri lanka by providing treated Embul banana samples to
consumers and staff to obtain feedback on the quality of treated banana.
Crown rot disease severity was low (CRS index < 1) in alum treated samples compared to
control after 28 days. Physicochemical and sensory properties were unaffected by
alum+vacuum packaging treatment. Oxygen within packages was maintained between 3.3 -
4.4 % while CO2 % varied between 3.9 - 4.0 %. In medium and large scale test marketing
trials, treatment controlled crown rot disease to a fair extent and obtained higher score values
from the customers and staff of fruit outlets for the sensory properties compared to control.
Therefore, this eco-friendly treatment method could be adopted for effective control of crown
rot disease and to extend shelf life of Embul banana up to one month.
