Effectiveness of CaCl2 treatment on quality attributes of banana fruit during storage

Abstract

Banana is a delicious fruit with excellent nutrient components beneficial for human health. In postharvest, banana fruit is quickly ripe within few days at ambient temperature condition and its quality is seriously degraded afterwards. Extension of its stability during storage and distribution is very necessary to enhance its economic value. This research evaluated the effectiveness of CaCl2 treatment on the physicochemical quality attributes, phyto-chemical and antioxidant activities, and potential enzymes of banana fruit during storage. Banana fruits were dipped in 3% CaCl2 solution for 5 min before draining on racks for 30 min at ambient temperature to remove excess calcium chloride solution. Another banana group is dipped in clean water, leaved on racks for 30 min as the control. Both these fruit groups were then stored at 4±0.5oC with 85-90% relative humidity for 28 days. In 7 day-interval, each group is taken to verify quality attributes such as decay index, firmness, extractable juice recovery, ascorbic acid, carotenoid, total soluble solid, phenolic content, total flavonoid content, DPPH radical scavenging rate, H2O2 content, catalase (CAT) activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of banana fruit during storage. Our findings demonstrated that CaCl2 exerted a positive influence in limiting decay (2.24±0.11 mark); slowing down texture firmness reduction (7.25±0.10 N); enhancing the extractable juice recovery (85.49±1.12%); controlling ascorbic acid (12.79±0.13 mg/100 g), total soluble solid (16.40±0.13 oBrix), phenolic retention (161.35±1.19 mg GAE/100 g), flavonoid content (64.41±0.25 mg QE/100 g) and H2O2 accumulation (20.09±0.10 µmol/g); improving carotenoid (21.83±0.13 µg/100 g), catalase (15.28±0.12 U/g), superoxide dismutase activity (5.60±0.10 U/g), antioxidant capacity of banana fruit (46.20±0.15%) during chilling storage. CaCl2 treatment would be an effective approach to extend shelf life of banana fruit in commercial distribution.