Studies on post harvest diseases and shelf-life of Banana

An experiment was undertaken in order to find out suitable method to control post-harvest diseases of Banana fruit cv., Grand naine and to extend its shelf-life. Dipping of the fruits in 0.1% Carbendenzim was found to be more effective in controlling anthracnose and crown rot up diseases to the extent of 2.27% and 4.64% PDI respectively. The second best treatment was dipping of banana fruits in the leaf extract of Solanum torvum. The shelf life was extended up to 15.5 days under Carbendenzim and up to 13.5 days due to the treatment with Solanum torvum. Firmness of treated fruits was found to be higher than that observed in untreated fruits during ripening.