Recent Postharvest Technologies in the Banana Supply Chain
Cicih Sugianti, Teppei Imaizumi, Manasikan Thammawong, K. Nakano
Abstract
Postharvest technology plays a vital role in preserving fruits. In particular, banana is a climacteric fruit with a short shelf-life; thus, good postharvest practice through the supply chain is essential to maintaining its quality. Prior to applying proper postharvest technology, it is important to understand the physiological changes in banana during the ripening process. This review describes the physiological characteristics of banana after harvesting as well as the technologies being studied and adopted practically to achieve postharvest goals. The discussion herein highlights the critical quality control points in the banana supply chain, e.g., storage, artificial ripening, and transportation. By assembling the current knowledge, this review could contribute on quality improvement through applying the proper postharvest technologies.