Bananas and Food Security - Bioversity International

604 Les productions bananières / Bananas and food security – Session 3
temperature injury to the fruits. It is well known that China is at present still a developing
country, the number of trucks and trains provided with temperature control being much
too few to satisfy the transportation needs, so that most bananas are transported in
ordinary trucks and trains without controlled temperature. During transport, therefore,
the phenomenon of green ripening is very often observed due to the high temperatures or
also chilling injury due to low temperatures, causing heavy losses. Based on the results of a
study on the postharvest physiology of banana under high temperatures in combination
with the practical conditions in China, Chen and his colleagues at the South China
Agricultural University have successfully developed a series of techniques applicable to
both refrigerated and unrefrigerated systems These techniques have been well used
commercially. Presented below is a flow diagram of the techniques.
Preharvest Technology
Farm management control of diseases and pest Bagging
Harvest
Postharvest Handling
Dehanding; Washing in chlorinated water;
Treating with fungicides; ethylene absorbent in MA storage
Precooling Unrefrigerated Storage
and Transportation
Refrigerated
Transportation
Ripening
Wholesaler
Retail Market
Preharvest technology
Strengthening the field management, control of plant diseases and pests such as
anthracnose, black spot, flower thrips, bagging of the fruits, etc. to improve the quality of
bananas.