Sucrier’ (M. acuminata, AA Group) bananas, locally
known as ‘Kluai Khai’, were harvested at commercial maturity
(80%) from a plantation in western Thailand. Bunches
were cut in hands and transported by a refrigerated truck
(25 ◦C) to the laboratory in corrugated cardboard boxes,
within 2 h of harvest. In the laboratory, hands were selected
for uniformity of size and colour and cleaned in a solution
of 200 mg l−1 chlorine. Bananas were dipped for 2–3 min in
500 mg l−1 benomyl solution to control anthracnose, which
has symptoms similar to peel spotting, and were allowed to
air dry before dipping for 1–2 min in 500 mg l−1 ethephon
to ripen them uniformly. After dipping, they were dried at
ambient temperature (29–30 ◦C) and left to ripen at 25 ◦C
(90–95% RH). Bananas were ripened until reaching colour
index (CI) 3–4 for further experimentation. That is, a mixture
was used of fruit at stages 3–4. At colour index 3, the peel
is slightly more green than yellow; at colour index 4, it is
slightly more yellow than green.