Study of Senescent Spotting of Banana Peel

Abstract

Senescent spots which developed on the yellow banana peel at later shelf storage occur as physiological denature. The initiation and development of the spotting were investigated by microscopic observations and change of phenolic content. Several layers of cells from the surface of banana peels showed browning from the vertical view, and brown particles in the cells were observed from the horizontal view by light microscopy. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the browning part of spots are sunken like craters from normal cell area and stomata were located in their center. Dopamine content of outmost peel was more abundant than the other parts of peel and pulp. However the content of dopamine in the area decreased during ripening, particularly in the area of senescent spots.