Abstract:
The present study was focused to determine the best storage conditions and to assess
microbial and nutritional variation of stored sour banana and silk banana during storage.
Fresh and green samples of banana varieties were picked from a farm in the Badulla area.
After surface sterilization, bananas were stored in four storage conditions; refrigerator
(4°C), wet saw dust, dry sawdust, and room temperature which were served as treatments
of the study. The content of protein, crude fat, sugar, moisture, and microbial counts was
assessed in three-day until the bananas were over-ripened. Microorganisms were isolated
and identification was done. Fusarium spp. and Aspergillus spp. were the dominating
fungal species while Alcaligenes spp. and Xanthomonas spp. were the tentatively
identified dominant bacteria in sour banana and silk banana respectively. But the best
storage condition for both varieties was refrigeration (sour banana 13 days, silk banana 20
days). When considering the nutrient profile sour banana contained high protein
percentage and low-fat percentage while silk banana contained low protein percentage
and high-fat percentage throughout the ripening process. When ripening protein content
has increased while fat content has decreased in both varieties. However, both moisture
and sugar content increased and were almost similar in both varieties. Therefore, high
protein and low-fat content could have led to faster ripening and microbial deterioration
of sour banana. Protein and fat content play a major role in shelflife of studied banana
varieties and the best storage condition for the selected varieties was refrigeration.
Keywords: Sour Banana, Silk banana, Storage condition
