Interactive effect of different fruit packaging materials and doses of gamma irradiation on postharvest behaviour of Apantu (<i>Musa</i> sp AAB) fruits from the green stage to the onset of ripening

The rate of postharvest losses is very high in plantains due to its climacteric nature. The study sought to find out the interactive effect of three different fruit packaging materials and gamma irradiation on Apantu and Apem using the amount of ethylene and carbon dioxide produced by the packaged irradiated plantain as a measure. The unirradiated (0 Gy) plantains stored in perforated polyethylene had the highest amount of ethylene produced during the storage period (456.83 μl.kg−1hr−1) while the plantains irradiated at 800 Gy and stored in whole polyethylene bags produced the least amount of ethylene during the storage period (247.67 μl.kg−1hr−1). The plantains irradiated at 200 Gy and stored in perforated polyethylene produced the highest amount of carbon dioxide during the storage period (274.33 ml CO2 kg−1hr−1) while the plantains irradiated at 800 Gy and stored in whole polyethylene bags produced the least amount of carbon dioxide during the storage period (120.50 ml CO2 kg−1hr−1). The packaging material was critical for controlling the respiratory rate of the fruit. Irradiation and packaging play a role in delaying the onset of ripening in plantain fruits.