Ripening Regulation and Post-harvest Improvement of Banana Cv. Malbhog by Treating with Ethephon

Abstract

A study entitled “Ripening regulation and post-harvest life improvement of banana Cv. Malbhog using ethephon” was under taken to assess the effect of ethephon on banana fruit ripening and quality parameters after harvest under ordinary room condition. The experiment was conducted at Central laboratory of Post-Harvest Horticulture of Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal in 2016. The experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) in which the experiment comprised of five treatments; control(no use of ethephon), ethephon @ 250 ppm, ethephon @ 500 ppm, ethephon @ 750 ppm and ethephon @ 1000 ppm replicated four times. On the final day of storage, the maximum physiological loss in weight was observed with ethephon @ 1000 ppm (24.52 %) and the colour score (7.75). Similarly the highest Total Soluble Solids content (19.32ºBrix) was observed with ethephon @ 1000 ppm and the maximum shelf life was found with control (14 days). From the experiment, the use of ethephon @ 1000 ppm and ethephon @ 750 ppm was found more effective regarding banana ripening and other various post harvest parameters and in case, if the bananas are to be stored for long duration, the control treatement is recommended to the farmers because it increases the shelf life.