Fruits were stored at 22 °C and 38% relative humidity (RH) as received (No coating) and after coating with water-annealed treated silk fibroin materials (tWA = 12 h, Silk fibroin coating). Bananas were hung from their respective stem throughout the whole experiment. Time-lapse photography of banana ripening indicated that silk coating decreased the ripening rate. The beta-sheet content of the silk fibroin used to coat the climacteric fruit did not affect fruit ripening (data not shown). Investigation of silk-coated banana firmness showed that the coating decreased fruit ripening, when compared to uncoated control at day 9 after coating. In addition, morphological