Department of Horticulture, S. V. Agricultural College, Tirupati-517 502 (A. P.)
*Partof the M.Sc. (Ag) thesis submitted by the first author to the andhra Pradesh Agaricultural University, Hyderabad.
Banana bunches CV Robusta harvested, at three-fourth and full maturity and the hands separted and dipped in aqueous solution of TBZ 500 ppm or wax emulsion containing TBZ 500 ppm in combination with different growth regulating substances, were kept in open or in polythene bags at room temperature or at 15°C and 80–90 per cent R. H. The fruits not only remained firm at the early ripe stage but had prolonged shelf life with green and unshrivelled peels having narrow pulp/peel weight ratio and perfect peeling condition till the end of the shelf life, when stored in polythene bagsatl5°C and 80–90 per cent R. H. Loss in fruit weight during pre and post-ripening stages was less when treated with 8-HQ and stored in polythene bags. Colour development and fruit ripening were delayed when the fruits were treated with wax emulsion and stored in polythene bags. The shelf life and fruit quality were greater and the spoilage due to fungal infection was nil in the fruits treated with wax emulsion and stored in polythene bags containing KMnO4 and Ca(OH)2 and the shelf life and quality were further enhanced when stored at 15°C and 80–90 per cent R. H.
