Banana fruit are fructose, glucose and sucrose. In both the pulp and peel of bananas ripened at 20 and 30°c sucrose is the predominate sugar in the pre and climacteric stages; in the post-climacteric period, glucose and fructose are the predominate sugars. Ethylene treatment applies prior to the onset of the climacteric increased the sucrose concentration at the peak by 8% in comparison to the controls. There is a noticeable suppression of sucrose concentrations in bananas ripening at 40°c but fructose and glucose remained unaltered. At 45°c ethylene treatment influenced glucose and fructose; at 50°c total sugar increase is less than 1. Thermal inactivation of the sucrose synthesizing enzymes is probably the cause of the lack of sucrose in bananas ripened at 40°c. Furthermore, since ethylene was shown to have an effect on glucose and fructose synthesis during ripening at 45°c, it may indicate that ethylene provides some thermal protection or can replace a cofactor in some way.
Banana fruit are only harvested in the hard green condition. Any bunches with fruit that are showing evidence of premature ripening or yellowing are rejected from being harvested. Cartons used for export fruits range from 5 to 18 kilograms, with 13 kilograms being the carton of choice. There are 54 x 13 kilogram cartons per pallet. Lowland growers use cableway systems to move banana bunches from the field to packhouses. Highland producers use mobile packing stations. The average cableway is 400 metres in length, however, some are as long as 2000 metres. Bunches remain separated on the cableway system. Any bunches that may accidentally fall to ground during transportation are discarded. In some instances fruit may be dehanded in the field. Trays are used to transport the hands to the packinghouse, and the fruit may be exposed to water and airborne inoculum, as well as dust and trash. It is estimated that 10% of fruit is dehanded in the field and transported on trays. For the specialised organic market in japan, specialised padded stretchers are used to carry dehanded bananas from the fields.
Banana fruit are only harvested in the hard green condition. Any bunches with fruit that are showing evidence of premature ripening or yellowing are rejected from being harvested. Cartons used for export fruits range from 5 to 18 kilograms, with 13 kilograms being the carton of choice. There are 54 x 13 kilogram cartons per pallet. Lowland growers use cableway systems to move banana bunches from the field to packhouses. Highland producers use mobile packing stations. The average cableway is 400 metres in length, however, some are as long as 2000 metres. Bunches remain separated on the cableway system. Any bunches that may accidentally fall to ground during transportation are discarded. In some instances fruit may be dehanded in the field. Trays are used to transport the hands to the packinghouse, and the fruit may be exposed to water and airborne inoculum, as well as dust and trash. It is estimated that 10% of fruit is dehanded in the field and transported on trays. For the specialised organic market in japan, specialised padded stretchers are used to carry dehanded bananas from the fields.
