2008 年 52 巻 2 号 p. 43-49
The postharvest characteristics of the banana cultivar ‘Williams’ grown in Ecuador under two production systems namely low chemical production system (LCPS) and conventional production system (CPS) during two seasons (wet versus dry season) were investigated. To elucidate the differences in the postharvest behavior of bananas between the two production systems, physicochemical changes occurring after ethylene treatment and storage under ambient room conditions were evaluated. LCPS bananas tended to ripen faster than the CPS bananas, regardless of the growing season, as evidenced by the lower peel firmness and hue angle during the shelf-life period. The LCPS bananas also showed relatively higher respiration and cumulative weight loss rates. The breakdown of starch to soluble sugars began earlier in the LCPS than in the CPS bananas. Sucrose was the dominant sugar throughout the ripening period, followed by glucose, then fructose, but their relative proportions varied at the different stages of ripening. Ripening was accompanied by a gradual increase in the moisture content of the pulp and the pulp: peel ratio.