Interaction of aqueous plant extracts on postharvest weight loss and decay of varieties of banana fruits (musa spp.) under ambient temperature conditions

This experiment was carried out to determine the interactive effect of aqueous plant extracts on fruit weight loss and decay of vvarieties of banana under ambient condition. The study was conducted in Postharvest laboratory, Federal College of Horticulture Dadinkowa, Gombe State. The experimental treatments were arranged in a completely randomised design (CRD) with three replications. Banana varieties namely, Gros Michel, Dwarf Cavendish and Lady’s Finger were factorially combined with aqueous plant extracts of Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Azadirachta indica and Lantana camara to test the interactive effects. Data collected on weight loss and fruit decay at three days intervals for nine days and were analysed using analysis of variance method with Genstat version 9 package and mean were separated using least significant difference at 5% probability level. The results obtained showed significant effect (p<0.05) on all the treatments. Eucalyptus extracts reduced weight loss on Gross Michel variety at 3rd and 6th days of storage, whereas extract of Azadirachta indica performed better at 9th day. Similarly, extract of Azadirachta indica was comparably more efficacious in reducing weight loss of Dwarf Cavendish variety in all the storage period. Fruit decay was also affected by the synergistic effect of plant extracts and the varieties. Extracts of Eucalyptus leaves, Lantana camara leaves and positive control (mancozeb) at 50g/L significantly inhibited fruit decay in Dwarf Cavendish variety, except neem extracts. Control (negative) treatment had the highest fruit decay in all the treatments. Banana growers could use aqueous neem extracts for the postharvest preservation of Dwarf Cavendish variety under ambient temperature condition.