Abstract
Post-harvest handling of banana in Bangladesh was studied. Harvesting procedure, latex removal, transport system and ripening procedure of three varieties of banana, Sabri, Amrita Sagar and Chinichampa were recorded in 49 locations under 25 districts of Bangladesh during July 1999 to December 2000. A total of 5,658,207 bunches of 57,95,66,633 fingers were counted during this period. Faulty harvesting procedure, loading and unloading of the bananas on the transport and stowage of banana bunches in transit, and transport, vibration and compression during transporting caused fruit cracks, cuts, punctures and blemishes. Bananas in different locations/markets were found to be affected with fruit rot, stem-end rot, distal-end rots and anthracnose. Pathogenic causes of banana rots were determined. Botryodiplodia theobromae Pat. was consistently isolated from fruit rot, stem-end rot and distal-end rot affected fruits, while Colletotrichum gloeosporioides from anthracnose rot. Black-spotting in bananas due to insect bites were also recorded. Results of the present investigation indicated that pricking/ injuring/wounding on the fruit surface accelerated infection of fruit rot. Biochemical studies indicated that nutritional value of 3 varieties decreased due to rot diseases. Market loss in banana owing to fruit injuries and rots were estimated 9.44% (Tk.8.69 crores) and 3.09% (Tk.2.69 crores) respectively in survey areas during the study period. Tissue hardening of banana was found only in Sabri variety. In Mymensingh town, 4% of the total accumulated Sabri bananas were found clotted during the study period. It was observed that there was gradual increase in calcium pectate in clotted ripe Sabri banana fruits with rise in temperature. Pectic substances present in the tissues of Sabri banana might have played a significant role in the clod formation. Application of Bavistin (1000 ppm) and Tilt (2000 ppm) prior to infection proved effective in preventing development of fruit rots of banana.