Laboratoire de Biochimie Alimentaire et Technologies des Produits Tropicaux, UFR des Sciences et Technologie des Aliments, Université Nangui-Abrogoua, 02 BP 801 Abidjan 02, Côte d'Ivoire
This study involved the use of polypropylene packaging for the conservation of plantain. Two plantain cultivars French and Horn harvested at 70 and 75 days after inflorescence were stored at 25 °C in polypropylene packaging of 0.235 and 0.303 mm thick. The green life, color of skin, firmness and soluble solids were determined. The results showed that the bananas stored in the polypropylene packaging containers had a significantly the green life longer than the unpackaged bananas. The green life witnesses (unpackaged fruits) was 4 to 6 days for the Horn variety and 5-8 days for the French variety, respectively 70 and 75 days. In packaged fruit, the green life of the French was 14 to 15 days and 18 to 20 days respectively in packages of 0.235 and 0.303 mm thick. Horn variety gave green life 13 to 14 days and 17 to 18 days respectively with the packaging of 0.235 and 0.303 mm thick. The green life of the French variety is significantly higher than that of the Horn variety. Fruits packed in polypropylene bags remained green longer, firmer and slowly accumulated soluble sugars that non-packaged fruit. Generally, these characteristics have evolved significantly in control from the 7th day of storage, and in samples packed in polypropylene bags of 0.235 and 0.303 mm thickness from the 14th and 20th day respectively.