Effect of 1-MCP Fumigation for Preserving the Quality of ‘Namwa’ Subcluster Isolated Bananas

The work aims to study the effect of 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on the quality of ‘Namwa’ bananas for retail markets. Banana crowns were cut to be a small cluster with 3-4 fingers per cluster, then fumigated with 1-MCP at 0 (control), 250, and 500 ppb at 25˚C for 6 hr. Afterward, all samples were kept at the ambient temperature (25˚C), the respiration rate, ethylene production, and fruit quality were determined at three days intervals for 9 days. Results found that treatment of 1-MCP at 250 and 500 ppb delayed the ethylene and respiration rate. The climacteric peak of the control was found on day 6 and the respiration rate reached the peak on day 3, whereas 1-MCP treatment had not seen during storage for 9 days, which led to delay in the ripening and senescence.  1-MCP treatment could retard the increase in total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), total sugar content, and firmness. This result suggests that treatment of 1-MCP at 250 and 500 ppb has the potential to maintain the quality of subcluster isolated bananas which is able to extend their shelf life for retail markets.