Abstract
Bananas, well known for their nutritional value, have a short shelf life and are sensitive to ethylene, hinders their long-distance marketability. To address this issue, various strategies have been explored to maintain quality and delay ripening. This study examines the impact of different packaging materials on bananas coated with aloe vera gel. Specifically, 1% perforated low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and paper bags were utilized as packaging materials. Over a 9-day storage period at 30 ± 2 ºC and 72 ± 5% relative humidity, the results indicated that bananas treated with aloe vera coating retained their physicochemical and sensory properties more effectively than uncoated bananas. Among the treatments, bananas coated with aloe vera and packaged in 1% perforated LDPE demonstrated the best preservation of key physicochemical characteristics, including titratable acidity (1.18%), total soluble solids (24.5%), and reduced weight loss (13%). The findings suggest that integrating aloe vera gel coating with appropriate packaging materials can be a promising approach to extending the shelf life of fresh, mature bananas.