Abstract

VASQUEZ-CASTILLO, Wilson et al. Fruit Quality and Post-Harvest Losses of Organic Bananas Musa acuminata in Ecuador. Enfoque UTE [online]. 2019, vol.10, n.4, pp.57-66. ISSN 1390-6542.  https://doi.org/10.29019/enfoque.v10n4.545.

Ecuador is the world's first banana exporter with more than 317 million boxes per year, and contributes 26 % of agricultural GDP, generating around 2.5 million direct and indirect jobs. Ecuador produces 19 000 ha and exports 36 000 t organic bananas. Postharvest losses fluctuate between 10 and 80 %, caused by inadequate postharvest and crop management. The present study aims to determine the physical and chemical quality of organic fruit and quantify post-harvest losses. The research was carried out in the organic banana plantation located in the province of Los Ríos (Ecuador). A completely randomized block design (DBCA) was used in a 7 x 2 factorial arrangement. The factors were: 1) harvest time (February-August), and 2) quality of export fruit (1st and 2nd) with 3 repetitions. The variables studied were based on 20 clusters. From the results obtained, it follows that the physical and chemical quality of the fruit is influenced by the harvest season, since they grew and developed in different environmental conditions. In general, 82 % of the production is destined for export, since it meets the quality standards.

Keywords : organic banana; physical quality; chemical quality, post-harvest losses; fruit discards..

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