Effect Of Potassium Permanganate And Silica Gel On The Shelf Life Of Banana (Musa paradisiaca) At Room Temperature

Abstract

A study was carried out to determine the effect of KMnO4 act as ethylene absorber and silica gel act as moisture absorber on the shelf life of banana (Musa paradisiaca) at room temperature. Hand of banana were packaged in the plastic bag with the combination of scrubbing formulation were specified as follow; T0: untreated banana, T1: hand of banana with moisture absorbent, T2: hand of banana with KMnO4 and T3: hand of banana with KMnO4 and moisture absorbent. All the samples were kept at room temperature. After 3 days, all the samples were taken out for determination of colour peel, total soluble solid (Brix° value), firmness of the banana pulp and weight loss. After 9 days, the result of this experiment have shown that the fruits which with KMnO4 without silica gel gave significant different compared with other treatment in reducing the weight loss (significant different =o.ooo). Treatment with KMnO4 (T2) also gave significant different in maintaining the colour changes and sugar content of banana. It was conclude that KMnO4 without moisture absorbent (T2) delayed the ripening of banana for at least 9 days.