Evaluasi Kematangan Pascapanen Pisang Uli (Musa sp. AA Grup) Berdasarkan Umur Panen untuk Menentukan Waktu Panen Terbaik.

Abstract

Banana is a climacteric fruit that continues to ripen after harvest, resulting in a relatively short shelf life. This study aimed to evaluate the postharvest maturity criteria of Uli banana at different harvest ages and to determine the best harvest time for postharvest handling. The experiment was conducted at Sukamantri Experimental Field using four harvest ages of Uli banana, namely 75, 80, 85, and 90 days after anthesis (DAA). Postharvest observations were carried out at the Postharvest Laboratory, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, IPB University. The results showed that Uli bananas harvested at older ages had a shorter shelf life and higher respiration rate than those harvested at younger ages. Fruit harvested at 75 DAA had the longest shelf life, reaching 15 days, while fruit harvested at 90 DAA had the shortest shelf life, reaching 11 days. Heat unit accumulation increased with harvest age, ranging from 909 to 1077 °C days. Harvest age showed differences in respiration rate, weight loss, edible part, total soluble solids (TSS), and total titratable acidity (TTA), while fruit softness and vitamin C content were relatively similar. Based on physical, physiological, and chemical fruit quality, the harvest age of 85 DAA with heat unit accumulation of approximately 1018 °C days produced the most optimal postharvest quality of Uli banana.