# Comparative Study on Aroma Volatiles, Organic Acids, and Sugars of Ambul Banana (Musa acuminata, AAB) Treated with Induced Ripening Agents

Authors: S. D. T. Maduwanthi; R. A. U. J. Marapana
Journal: Journal of Food Quality
 (2019)

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## Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate effect of induced ripening agents on aroma profile, organic acids and sugars ofAmbul banana (Musa acuminata, AAB). Mature green bananas that are in same maturity stage were subjected to 1000 ppm ethephon and 1000 ppm acetylene and kept at 20°C, 80–85% RH for ripening. Aroma profile was analyzed by SPME-GC-MS, while organic acids and sugars were tested by HPLC. Naturally ripened banana was found to be more aromatic than acetylene- and ethephon-treated banana having highest number of volatile compounds (27) and high level of esters (65%). Malic acid, citric acid, and oxalic acids were significantly low in treated bananas compared to naturally ripened bananas. Glucose and fructose, which are major types of sugars in ripe banana flesh, were significantly low in acetylene-treated banana, while sucrose was not detected in both ethephon- and acetylene-treated samples at fully yellow stage. Although ethephon and acetylene trigger the ripening process, they lead to poor aroma profile and lower levels of organic acids and sugars in flesh of banana.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Banana is a very popular fruit in the world, which belongs to theEumusa section of genus Musa from the family Musaceae. When considering its importance as a food crop, it is considered as the most important crop after rice, wheat, and maize [1]. Bananas are of two types: dessert/table bananas, which are consumed raw as a dessert, and cooking type bananas, which are referred as plantains. There are 300–500 banana cultivars all over the world, while most popular cultivars are Musa cavendishi, Musa paradisiaca, and Musa sapientum [2,3].Banana is a climacteric fruit and after harvest, it exhibits a respiratory peak during natural ripening [4]. They are often harvested at mature green preclimacteric stage and induced to ripen using artificial ripening agents to obtain fruits with a same maturity stage and uniform peel colour [5]. The most popular method used in developed countries is exposing banana to ethylene gas in ripening rooms under controlled temperature and humidity [6]. Alternatively to ethylene gas, chemicals such as ethephon (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid) that can generate ethylene is widely used as a commercial ripening agent in developing countries. Acetylene, which is an ethylene analogue, can enhance fruit ripening [7]. In most developing countries, acetylene is produced using calcium carbide, which is prohibited due to its toxicity to humans [8]. Many research studies have reported that chemicals such as ethanol, methanol, propylene, methyl jasmonate, and ethylene glycol also can instigate fruit ripening [9].Fruit ripening is a highly coordinated, genetically programmed, and an irreversible process involving a series of physiological, biochemical, and organoleptic changes such as increased respiration, ethylene production, chlorophyll degradation, biosynthesis of carotenoids, anthocyanins, essential oils, flavour, and aroma compounds, and activation of cell wall-degrading [10]. Artificial ripening agents affect nutritional quality of fruits [9, 11, 12], and many studies show that artificially ripened fruits have significant differences in peel colour, aroma, flavour, and sensory quality when compared to naturally ripened fruits [13–15]. This study was conducted to analyze the effect of ethephon and acetylene on different biochemical attributes of banana (Musa acuminata, AAB).


## 2. Methodology

### 2.1. Plant Material

Banana (Musa acuminata, AAB) were harvested at green mature stage from an orchard in Dankotuwa, Sri Lanka, and immediately transported to the laboratory with a minimum physical stress. Banana hands were separated and washed thoroughly with water. Peel colour was measured using Chroma meter (Lovibond LC 100, China), and texture was measured using texture analyzer (CT3 Brookfield, USA) in each hand with six replicate measurements. The values were subjected to analysis of variance using MINITAB 17 software under 0.05 significant level and the hands that did not show significant difference were taken for treatments.


### 2.2. Ethephon Treatment

The treatment was designed referring to Adane et al. [16] with modifications. Fifty milliliters of 1000 ppm ethephon (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid) (Sigma, 98.6 %) was prepared and mixed with 50 ml of 1000 ppm NaOH in a closed chamber where 1 kg of banana was placed. Samples were exposed to the ethylene gas emitted from the above solution for 24 hours. Treated samples were stored under 20°C and 80–85% relative humidity (RH).


### 2.3. Acetylene Treatment

The treatment was conducted referring to Thompson and Seymour [5] with modifications. Bananas were exposed to 1000 ppm acetylene using 3.07 g of purified calcium carbide (Sigma Aldrich, 80%) per 1 kg of banana. Samples were exposed to it for 24 hours. Treated samples were stored under 20°C and 80–85% relative humidity (RH).


## 2.1. Plant Material

Banana (Musa acuminata, AAB) were harvested at green mature stage from an orchard in Dankotuwa, Sri Lanka, and immediately transported to the laboratory with a minimum physical stress. Banana hands were separated and washed thoroughly with water. Peel colour was measured using Chroma meter (Lovibond LC 100, China), and texture was measured using texture analyzer (CT3 Brookfield, USA) in each hand with six replicate measurements. The values were subjected to analysis of variance using MINITAB 17 software under 0.05 significant level and the hands that did not show significant difference were taken for treatments.


## 2.2. Ethephon Treatment

The treatment was designed referring to Adane et al. [16] with modifications. Fifty milliliters of 1000 ppm ethephon (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid) (Sigma, 98.6 %) was prepared and mixed with 50 ml of 1000 ppm NaOH in a closed chamber where 1 kg of banana was placed. Samples were exposed to the ethylene gas emitted from the above solution for 24 hours. Treated samples were stored under 20°C and 80–85% relative humidity (RH).


## 2.3. Acetylene Treatment

The treatment was conducted referring to Thompson and Seymour [5] with modifications. Bananas were exposed to 1000 ppm acetylene using 3.07 g of purified calcium carbide (Sigma Aldrich, 80%) per 1 kg of banana. Samples were exposed to it for 24 hours. Treated samples were stored under 20°C and 80–85% relative humidity (RH).


## 3. General Analysis

### 3.1. Aroma Profile

Aroma profile was analyzed at stage 6 in each treatment by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) according to the method given by Bugaud and Alter [17] with some modifications. Five grams of banana flesh was homogenized with 5 ml of distilled water. Then 1 g from the homogenized mixture was inserted in to a 20 ml SPME vial. The sample was kept in a water bath at 60°C for 10 min for equilibrium. Aroma compounds were adsorbed using SPME fiber (Supelco, 50/30 μm divinylbenzene/Carboxen on polydimethylsiloxane on a 2 cm stable flex fiber) by exposing the fiber into headspace of the sample for 10 min at 60°C.Gas chromatograph mass spectrophotometric (GC-MS) analyses were carried out using Agilent 7890A coupled with Mass Spectrophotometer (5975C). Volatile compounds were separated on a DB-225MS (Agilent) capillary column (30 m × 250μm × 0.25 μm). Helium was used as carrier gas at a constant flow rate 1 ml/min. Samples were manually injected to GC at 240°C in split less mode for 5 min. The temperature program was started with the oven temperature at 40°C, then 2°C/min to 70°C, hold at 70°C for 5 min, then up to 170°C by 5°C/min, then 50°C/min up to 220°C, and finally maintained at 220°C for 5 min.Compounds were tentatively identified by comparing the results obtained with the reference mass spectra from NIST library (NIST 08) using the criterion of at 80% similarity for the mass spectra. Relative abundance (RA) of each compound was calculated using total sum normalization using the following formula:(1)RA%=area of the peaksumofareasofallpeaks×100%.


### 3.2. Organic Acids

Organic acid analysis was done according to the method described by Liu et al. [18] with few modifications. Sample preparation was done by homogenizing 5 g of fruit pulp with 10 ml of double distilled water. Homogenate was centrifuged 6000 rpm for 10 minutes. The supernatant was filtered through 0.45 μm nylon filters, and the filtrate was used for HPLC determination.The chromatographic separation was carried out using the Agilent-1260-Infinity HPLC system (Agilent, Germany). The column was Agilent Eclipse Plus C18, 5μm 4.6 × 250 mm. Mobile phase consisted of 97% dipotassium hydrogen phosphate buffered at pH 2.6 with orthophosphoric acid and 3% methanol (100%). The flow rate was 1.0 mL/min at 30°C. The detection was carried out at 210 nm. Results were expressed as milligram per 100 g of fresh weight.Quantifications were done using standard curves prepared using external standards of malic acid, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, and citric acid supplied by Sigma-Aldrich (USA).


### 3.3. Sugars

The organic acid analysis was done according to the method described by Ma et al. [19] with a few modifications. Sample preparation was done by homogenizing 5 g of fruit pulp with 10 ml of double distilled water. Homogenate was centrifuged at 6000 rpm for 10 minutes. The supernatant was filtered through 0.45 μm nylon filters, and the filtrate was used for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) determination. The chromatographic separation was carried out using the Agilent-1260-Infinity HPLC system (Agilent, Germany) equipped with quaternary gradient pump, refractive index (RI) detector, and thermostated column compartment. Chromatographic separation was achieved with Zorbax NH2 (4.6 mm × 250 mm, 5 μm, Agilent USA) analytical HPLC column. Mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile: water: 70 : 30 v/v (isocratic) with a flow rate was 1.2 mL/min. Injection volume was 10.0 μL, and column compartment was thermostated at 30°C. Results were expressed as mg per 100 g of fresh weight.Quantifications were done using standard curves prepared using external standards of sucrose, maltose, fructose, and glucose obtained by Sigma-Aldrich (USA).


### 3.4. Statistical Analysis

Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance under 95% confidence level using MINITAB 17.


## 3.1. Aroma Profile

Aroma profile was analyzed at stage 6 in each treatment by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) according to the method given by Bugaud and Alter [17] with some modifications. Five grams of banana flesh was homogenized with 5 ml of distilled water. Then 1 g from the homogenized mixture was inserted in to a 20 ml SPME vial. The sample was kept in a water bath at 60°C for 10 min for equilibrium. Aroma compounds were adsorbed using SPME fiber (Supelco, 50/30 μm divinylbenzene/Carboxen on polydimethylsiloxane on a 2 cm stable flex fiber) by exposing the fiber into headspace of the sample for 10 min at 60°C.Gas chromatograph mass spectrophotometric (GC-MS) analyses were carried out using Agilent 7890A coupled with Mass Spectrophotometer (5975C). Volatile compounds were separated on a DB-225MS (Agilent) capillary column (30 m × 250μm × 0.25 μm). Helium was used as carrier gas at a constant flow rate 1 ml/min. Samples were manually injected to GC at 240°C in split less mode for 5 min. The temperature program was started with the oven temperature at 40°C, then 2°C/min to 70°C, hold at 70°C for 5 min, then up to 170°C by 5°C/min, then 50°C/min up to 220°C, and finally maintained at 220°C for 5 min.Compounds were tentatively identified by comparing the results obtained with the reference mass spectra from NIST library (NIST 08) using the criterion of at 80% similarity for the mass spectra. Relative abundance (RA) of each compound was calculated using total sum normalization using the following formula:(1)RA%=area of the peaksumofareasofallpeaks×100%.


## 3.2. Organic Acids

Organic acid analysis was done according to the method described by Liu et al. [18] with few modifications. Sample preparation was done by homogenizing 5 g of fruit pulp with 10 ml of double distilled water. Homogenate was centrifuged 6000 rpm for 10 minutes. The supernatant was filtered through 0.45 μm nylon filters, and the filtrate was used for HPLC determination.The chromatographic separation was carried out using the Agilent-1260-Infinity HPLC system (Agilent, Germany). The column was Agilent Eclipse Plus C18, 5μm 4.6 × 250 mm. Mobile phase consisted of 97% dipotassium hydrogen phosphate buffered at pH 2.6 with orthophosphoric acid and 3% methanol (100%). The flow rate was 1.0 mL/min at 30°C. The detection was carried out at 210 nm. Results were expressed as milligram per 100 g of fresh weight.Quantifications were done using standard curves prepared using external standards of malic acid, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, and citric acid supplied by Sigma-Aldrich (USA).


## 3.3. Sugars

The organic acid analysis was done according to the method described by Ma et al. [19] with a few modifications. Sample preparation was done by homogenizing 5 g of fruit pulp with 10 ml of double distilled water. Homogenate was centrifuged at 6000 rpm for 10 minutes. The supernatant was filtered through 0.45 μm nylon filters, and the filtrate was used for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) determination. The chromatographic separation was carried out using the Agilent-1260-Infinity HPLC system (Agilent, Germany) equipped with quaternary gradient pump, refractive index (RI) detector, and thermostated column compartment. Chromatographic separation was achieved with Zorbax NH2 (4.6 mm × 250 mm, 5 μm, Agilent USA) analytical HPLC column. Mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile: water: 70 : 30 v/v (isocratic) with a flow rate was 1.2 mL/min. Injection volume was 10.0 μL, and column compartment was thermostated at 30°C. Results were expressed as mg per 100 g of fresh weight.Quantifications were done using standard curves prepared using external standards of sucrose, maltose, fructose, and glucose obtained by Sigma-Aldrich (USA).


## 3.4. Statistical Analysis

Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance under 95% confidence level using MINITAB 17.


## 4. Results and Discussion

### 4.1. Efficiency of Ripening Agents

Table1 shows peel colour, firmness, and stage of ripeness in each treatment in 48 hours intervals. Banana treated with 1000 ppm ethephon and acetylene turned to fully yellow (Stage 6) after 2 days, while the natural ripening process took 8 days to turn the fruit to stage 6. The peel colour was highest in acetylene-treated fruits at stage 6, which was 50.7 ± 3.75 C∗, while 42.23 ± 6.55 and 46.87 ± 2.65 C∗ in ethephon and natural ripening, respectively. However, firmness was 350 ± 46 g in naturally ripened banana at stage 6 when artificially ripened banana recorded higher values than that.Table 1
Peel colour, firmness, and stage of ripeness in ethephon-treated, acetylene-treated, and naturally ripened banana.
Natural ripening
Ethephon
Acetylene
Day
0
2
4
6
8
10
2
4
2
4
Colour (C∗)
36.36 ± 1.46
37.38 ± 1.81
37.28 ± 2.21
44.75 ± 4.68
46.87 ± 2.65
47.75 ± 0.95
42.23 ± 6.55
41.23 ± 7.01
50.70 ± 3.75
45.33 ± 4.07
Firmness (g)
1541 ± 135
1450 ± 165
1149 ± 89
1079 ± 99
350 ± 46
222 ± 33
479 ± 88
224 ± 28
565 ± 76
264 ± 67
Stage of ripeness
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 2
Stage 4
Stage 6
Stage 7
Stage 6
Stage 7
Stage 6
Stage 7
Stage 1: green; Stage 2: colour break; Stage 3: more green than yellow; Stage 4: more yellow than green; Stage 5: yellow with green tip; Stage 6: fully yellow; Stage 7: overripe.


### 4.2. Aroma Volatiles

Table2 shows aroma compounds detected by SPME–GC-MS technique on DB-225MS column in ethephon-treated banana, acetylene-treated banana, and naturally ripened banana at stage 6. Total number of aroma compounds detected in naturally ripened banana was 27 when 16 and 15 compounds were detected, respectively, in ethephon- and acetylene-treated banana. The results further confirm the findings of Sonmezdag et al. [13], indicating that naturally ripened banana is more aromatic than artificially ripened banana. According to Mayr et al. [20], approximately 250 volatile compounds have been detected in banana at different stages of ripeness and different varieties. However, the number of compounds that are really odour-active is less than 40 [17, 21]. Since SPME technique isolates high and medium volatile compounds, the total number of aroma compounds detected here was 35. Thirteen compounds out of this 35 including ethyl acetate, propyl butanoate, 2-methylpropyl 3-methylbutanoate, pentan-2-yl butanoate, 3-methylbutyl 2-methylbutanoate, 2-methylpropyl hexanoate, 3-methylbutyl hexanoate, decanal, 2-methyl-1-propanol, Z-4-dodecenol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, 1-ethylcyclohexene, and 2,4-ditert-butylphenol were detected only in naturally ripened samples. Methyl butyl esters were the most abundant volatile component at stage 6 of all samples as found in many studies [13, 17, 22].Table 2
Volatile compounds detected by SPME at fully yellow stage of banana.
Volatile compound
Natural ripening
Ethephon
Acetylene
Relative abundance (%)
Peak area (×106)
Relative abundance (%)
Peak area (×106)
Relative abundance (%)
Peak area (×106)
Esters
Ethyl acetate
D
1.1
52.98
ND
—
—
ND
—
—
Ethyl butanoate
D
1.6a
78.03
D
1.9a
52.59
D
1.4a
47.31
Butyl acetate
D
0.7b
36.67
D
3.5a
93.50
D
2.5a
82.06
3-Methylbutyl acetate
D
8.0a
401.43
D
11.9b
321.53
D
10.6c
352.10
Propyl butanoate
D
0.2
9.16
ND
—
—
ND
—
—
2-Methylpropyl butanoate
D
9.7a
484.15
D
2.2b
60.28
D
3.6b
121.55
2-Methylpropyl 3-methylbutanoate
D
2.0
98.06
ND
—
—
ND
—
—
Pentan-2-yl butanoate
D
1.1
56.18
ND
—
—
ND
—
—
Butyl butanoate
D
2.0b
100.23
D
2.4b
64.97
D
3.5a
117.01
Butyl pentanoate
D
0.9a
46.00
D
0.2a
5.81
ND
—
—
3-Methylbutyl 2-methylbutanoate
D
0.3
16.25
ND
—
—
ND
—
—
3-Methylbutyl 3-methylbutanoate
D
12.2a
611.69
D
0.8b
20.97
D
0.8b
25.21
2-Methylpropyl hexanoate
D
<0.0
2.02
ND
—
—
ND
—
—
[(E)-hex-4-enyl] butanoate
D
0.2a
10.98
ND
—
—
D
0.2a
7.15
3-Methylbutyl hexanoate
D
0.2
8.59
ND
—
—
ND
—
—
2-Methylpropyl acetate
ND
—
—
D
2.6a
70.57
D
2.2a
73.18
Hexyl acetate
ND
—
—
D
0.3a
8.10
D
0.2a
6.78
3-Methylbutyl butanoate
D
24.5a
1226.02
D
9.0b
243.30
D
0.2c
6.56
Hexyl butanoate
ND
—
D
0.1a
3.47
D
0.2a
5.19
[(E)-Hex-4-enyl] pentanoate
D
0.3
13.92
ND
—
—
ND
—
—
Propanoic acid, 2-methyl-, 1-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-2-methyl-1,3-propanediyl ester
ND
—
—
D
0.1
2.08
ND
—
—
Total esters (RA%)
65.0%
35.0%
25.4%
Aldehydes
Hexanal
D
0.8a
39.96
ND
—
—
D
5.3b
177.85
(E)-2-hexenal
D
1.3b
64.51
D
7.8a
209.85
D
8.9a
297.55
Decanal
D
<0.0
2.12
ND
—
—
ND
—
—
(E)-3-hexenal
ND
—
—
D
0.3
8.35
ND
—
—
Total aldehydes (RA%)
2.1%
8.1%
14.2%
Alcohols
2-Methyl-1-propanol
D
0.1
5.93
ND
—
—
ND
—
—
Z-4-Dodecenol
D
<0.0
1.65
ND
—
—
ND
—
—
2-Methyl-1-butanol
D
1.8
89.34
ND
—
—
ND
—
—
Total alcohols (RA%)
1.9%
0.0%
0.0%
Benzenic derivatives
Benzaldehyde
D
0.1a
3.18
D
0.1a
2.14
D
0.1a
3.31
1-Ethylcyclohexene
D
<0.0
1.53
ND
—
—
ND
—
—
2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol
D
0.2
11.69
ND
—
—
ND
—
—
1,2,3-Trimethoxy-5-prop-2-enylbenzene
D
0.3a
17.14
ND
—
—
D
0.3a
9.83
Total benzenic derivatives (RA%)
0.6%
0.1%
0.4%
Ethers
(E)-3-Hexenyl methyl ether
ND
—
—
D
0.2
5.45
ND
—
—
Total ethers (RA%)
0.0%
0.2%
0.0%
Total number of aroma compounds detected
27
16
15
D: detected; ND: not detected; RA (%): relative abundance (%). Values bearing different superscript letters within the same row are statistically significant at 95% confidence level.When comparing relative abundance percentage (RA%) of total esters, aroma profile of naturally ripened banana consists of 65.0% of esters, whereas in ethephon-treated samples, it was 35.0%. The lowest percentage of esters was noted in acetylene-treated samples as there was only 25.4% of esters. This emphasizes the fact that ester accumulation during ripening is closely related with ethylene biosynthesis [13].3-Methylbutyl butanoate was the most abundant volatile compound in naturally ripened samples, accounting for 24.5% of RA%. However, 3-methylbutyl acetate was the most abundant component in treated samples accounting for 11.9% and 10.6% of RA, respectively, in ethephon- and acetylene-treated samples. According to Pino and Febles [22], 3-methylbutyl acetate (ripe banana), 3-methylbutyl 3-methylbutanoate (fruity banana like), and 3-methylbutyl butanoate (fruity banana peel) are key compounds as well as the most abundant compounds in banana aroma. Accordingly, in naturally ripened samples, these three esters were recorded as the most abundant compounds accounting for 8, 12.2, and 24.5% of RA%, respectively. However, 3-methylbutyl 3-methylbutanoate was detected at significantly minor percentages (0.8% in ethephon-/acetylene-treated samples). 3-methylbutyl butanoate was detected in significantly low percentages (0.2% in acetylene-treated bananas). Ethyl acetate, which is responsible for fruity flower aroma according to Bugaud and Alter [17], is considered as an important odour-active compound in banana aroma profile [22]. Ethyl acetate was absent in ethephon- and acetylene-treated samples.The percentage of aldehydes was highest (14.2%) in acetylene-treated banana, while the lowest (2.1%) was found in naturally ripened banana. This is in contrast with the findings of Vermeir et al. [23] and Sonmezdag et al. [13], where it was recorded that the aldehyde contents of naturally ripened banana were much higher than those of the artificially ripened banana. (E)-2-hexenal can be considered as the major aldehyde present in banana aroma and it is also consistent with earlier research work [13, 22, 24, 25]. However, RA% of (E)-2-hexenal was significantly low in naturally ripened samples when compared to treated samples.Alcoholic compounds are decreased during ripening process [13, 26]. None of the alcoholic compounds were detected in ethephon- and acetylene-treated banana.


### 4.3. Organic Acids

Organic acids are natural compounds available in banana flesh contributing to the acidic nature, which is an important quality parameter in banana. During fruit ripening, organic acid levels decrease along with accumulation of sugars in fruit flesh [27]. As in many climacteric fruits, malic acid and citric acid are the most abundant organic acids in banana flesh (Table 3).Table 3
Organic acids at fully yellow stage.
Organic acids
Natural ripening
Ethephon
Acetylene
Malic acid (mg/100 g)
544.30 ± 2.80a
210.88 ± 1.70b
340.94 ± 1.81c
Citric acid (mg/100 g)
341.67 ± 0.32a
109.98 ± 0.40b
92.94 ± 1.53c
Tartaric acid (mg/100 g)
60.93 ± 2.54a
15.28 ± 0.35b
53.33 ± 2.45a
Oxalic acid (mg/100 g)
57.3 ± 1.56a
19.57 ± 1.04b
25.43 ± 2.85b
Values bearing different superscript letters within the same row are statistically significant at 95% confidence level.According to Figure1, citric acid is the most abundant organic acid at fully green stage (stage 1), while tartaric acid and oxalic acid were detected in low amounts as 16.1 ± 2.3 and 30.8 ± 1.6 mg/100 g, respectively. This record is in contrast with that of Wyman and Palmer [28], where it was found that oxalic acid is the predominant acid at raw stage of banana. This might be due to the difference in the variety since Musa acuminata, AAB, a type of sour banana, was used in the present analysis. Citric acid shows an increasing trend until day 6 (stage 4) where it reaches its peak. The amount of malic acid at stage 1 was 200.83 ± 2.08 mg/100 g and it increases during ripening, reaches its maximum at day 8 (stage 6), and decreases when it reaches overripe stage (stage 7). This behavior of malic acid shows good agreement with Wyman and Palmer [28] and Agravante et al. [29].Figure 1
Organic acid changes during natural ripening.Furthermore, it is seen that the variation of malic acid somewhat corresponds with respiration rate of the fruit. It increases up to a point where ripening begins and then declines after that. This behavior was obtained by Harris and Poland [30] as well. Pua et al. [31] further clarified that malic acid accumulation in banana flesh during ripening occurs through glyoxylate cycle, regulated by MaMS-1, which can be induced by ethylene. Simply, it exhibits that exogenous ethylene treatment can also trigger malic acid accumulation in fruit flesh.Figure2 represents variation of malic, oxalic, citric, and tartaric acids during the ripening process of naturally ripened, ethephon-treated, and acetylene-treated banana. Similar variation pattern of malic acid can be noted in ethephon- and acetylene-treated banana where malic acid level increases continuously during the ripening process and it reaches peak at the overripe stage. However, when we consider malic acid content at stage 6 (Table 3), malic acid is significantly high in naturally ripened banana and significantly low in ethephon-treated banana.Figure 2
Changes of organic acid in flesh during ripening of banana treated with induced ripening agents: (a) malic acid, (b) citric acid, (c) oxalic acid, and (d) tartaric acid.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)Citric acid shows a sudden reduction in first 2 days in both ethephon- and acetylene-treated banana (Figure2(b)). This may be due to the sudden activation of respiratory climacteric and utilization of citric acid in tricarboxylic acid cycle for respiration [32]. In natural ripening, the similar reduction of citric acid can be seen after stage 4. Significantly high citric acid level was detected in naturally ripened samples at stage 6 compared to other two samples (Table 3).Oxalic acid is reported as the acid responsible for the astringent taste in raw banana flesh fully or partly [33]. Oxalic acid content increases up to day 4, after which there is a sudden drop within next two days and rise up again. The reduction of oxalic acid at climacteric rise was noted in the study by Wyman and Palmer [28] as well. This reduction may be due to oxalic acid being utilized as the CO2 source at climacteric rise [34]. In ethephon- and acetylene-treated samples, oxalic acid shows this reduction within first two days indicating the sudden activation of climacteric rise just after the treatments. However, oxalic acid content at stage 6 as shown in Table 2, significantly high in naturally ripened banana.Tartaric acid increases till stage 6, reaches its maximum, and reduces at stage 7 in acetylenetreated samples. However, the acid varies in a different manner in ethephon-treated samples where it increases continuously till stage 7. Nevertheless, tartaric acid content at stage 6 is significantly low in ethephon-treated samples, when compared to other two which can cause low level of total acidity in banana flesh.


### 4.4. Sugars

During ripening, starch is degraded rapidly, while sugars get accumulated [33]. Well-matured banana contains nearly 20–25% of starch by fresh weight before ripening [35]. Starch degradation is one of the key mechanisms in banana fruit, which causes softening of the fruit during ripening [10] and it supplies carbon for sucrose synthesis [36]. Under this analysis, fructose, glucose, and sucrose were detected in banana flesh, while maltose was not detected at any stage of ripeness complying with Yang and Ho [37] and Kheng et al. [32]. None of the sugars were detected at fully green stage (Day 0). As Figure 3 depicts, both fructose and glucose showed an increasing trend during natural ripening till the fruit reaches stage 6 (Day 8), while fructose and glucose reduces when it comes to stage 7. There is a sudden increment in fructose and glucose contents after the treatments of ethephon and acetylene. Ratio of fructose to glucose at all stages of ripeness is close to unity, regardless of the treatment, indicating that the immediate precursor of these sugars is sucrose in all treatments.Figure 3
Changes of sugars in flesh during ripening of banana treated with induced ripening agents: (a) fructose and (b) glucose.
(a)
(b)Sucrose was detected only in naturally ripened banana at stage 6 (Table4), and sucrose was not available in treated samples at any stage. This result does not correspond with Seymour [33], Kheng et al. [32], and Lizana [38], where it has been found that sucrose is the predominant sugar at green stage of banana and it shows a decreasing pattern during ripening. However, according to Lizana [38], sucrose formation can be suppressed by environmental conditions mostly by high temperatures. This controversial result may be due to change in the variety of banana under the study and the high temperate weather in Sri Lanka.Table 4
Fructose, glucose, maltose, and sucrose at fully yellow stage.
Sugars
Natural ripening
Ethephon
Acetylene
Fructose (g/100 g)
7.72 ± 0.17a
6.55 ± 0.11b
5.83 ± 0.05c
Glucose (g/100 g)
7.37 ± 0.33a
6.53 ± 0.57a
5.64 ± 0.19b
Sucrose (g/100 g)
1.11 ± 0.01
ND
ND
Maltose (g/100 g)
ND
ND
ND
Values bearing different superscript letters within the same row are statistically significant at 95% confidence level.As shown in Table4, glucose and fructose contents are significantly low in acetylene-treated banana at stage 6, which can lead to low sensory quality of fruits at eat ripe stage.


## 4.1. Efficiency of Ripening Agents

Table1 shows peel colour, firmness, and stage of ripeness in each treatment in 48 hours intervals. Banana treated with 1000 ppm ethephon and acetylene turned to fully yellow (Stage 6) after 2 days, while the natural ripening process took 8 days to turn the fruit to stage 6. The peel colour was highest in acetylene-treated fruits at stage 6, which was 50.7 ± 3.75 C∗, while 42.23 ± 6.55 and 46.87 ± 2.65 C∗ in ethephon and natural ripening, respectively. However, firmness was 350 ± 46 g in naturally ripened banana at stage 6 when artificially ripened banana recorded higher values than that.Table 1
Peel colour, firmness, and stage of ripeness in ethephon-treated, acetylene-treated, and naturally ripened banana.
Natural ripening
Ethephon
Acetylene
Day
0
2
4
6
8
10
2
4
2
4
Colour (C∗)
36.36 ± 1.46
37.38 ± 1.81
37.28 ± 2.21
44.75 ± 4.68
46.87 ± 2.65
47.75 ± 0.95
42.23 ± 6.55
41.23 ± 7.01
50.70 ± 3.75
45.33 ± 4.07
Firmness (g)
1541 ± 135
1450 ± 165
1149 ± 89
1079 ± 99
350 ± 46
222 ± 33
479 ± 88
224 ± 28
565 ± 76
264 ± 67
Stage of ripeness
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 2
Stage 4
Stage 6
Stage 7
Stage 6
Stage 7
Stage 6
Stage 7
Stage 1: green; Stage 2: colour break; Stage 3: more green than yellow; Stage 4: more yellow than green; Stage 5: yellow with green tip; Stage 6: fully yellow; Stage 7: overripe.


## 4.2. Aroma Volatiles

Table2 shows aroma compounds detected by SPME–GC-MS technique on DB-225MS column in ethephon-treated banana, acetylene-treated banana, and naturally ripened banana at stage 6. Total number of aroma compounds detected in naturally ripened banana was 27 when 16 and 15 compounds were detected, respectively, in ethephon- and acetylene-treated banana. The results further confirm the findings of Sonmezdag et al. [13], indicating that naturally ripened banana is more aromatic than artificially ripened banana. According to Mayr et al. [20], approximately 250 volatile compounds have been detected in banana at different stages of ripeness and different varieties. However, the number of compounds that are really odour-active is less than 40 [17, 21]. Since SPME technique isolates high and medium volatile compounds, the total number of aroma compounds detected here was 35. Thirteen compounds out of this 35 including ethyl acetate, propyl butanoate, 2-methylpropyl 3-methylbutanoate, pentan-2-yl butanoate, 3-methylbutyl 2-methylbutanoate, 2-methylpropyl hexanoate, 3-methylbutyl hexanoate, decanal, 2-methyl-1-propanol, Z-4-dodecenol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, 1-ethylcyclohexene, and 2,4-ditert-butylphenol were detected only in naturally ripened samples. Methyl butyl esters were the most abundant volatile component at stage 6 of all samples as found in many studies [13, 17, 22].Table 2
Volatile compounds detected by SPME at fully yellow stage of banana.
Volatile compound
Natural ripening
Ethephon
Acetylene
Relative abundance (%)
Peak area (×106)
Relative abundance (%)
Peak area (×106)
Relative abundance (%)
Peak area (×106)
Esters
Ethyl acetate
D
1.1
52.98
ND
—
—
ND
—
—
Ethyl butanoate
D
1.6a
78.03
D
1.9a
52.59
D
1.4a
47.31
Butyl acetate
D
0.7b
36.67
D
3.5a
93.50
D
2.5a
82.06
3-Methylbutyl acetate
D
8.0a
401.43
D
11.9b
321.53
D
10.6c
352.10
Propyl butanoate
D
0.2
9.16
ND
—
—
ND
—
—
2-Methylpropyl butanoate
D
9.7a
484.15
D
2.2b
60.28
D
3.6b
121.55
2-Methylpropyl 3-methylbutanoate
D
2.0
98.06
ND
—
—
ND
—
—
Pentan-2-yl butanoate
D
1.1
56.18
ND
—
—
ND
—
—
Butyl butanoate
D
2.0b
100.23
D
2.4b
64.97
D
3.5a
117.01
Butyl pentanoate
D
0.9a
46.00
D
0.2a
5.81
ND
—
—
3-Methylbutyl 2-methylbutanoate
D
0.3
16.25
ND
—
—
ND
—
—
3-Methylbutyl 3-methylbutanoate
D
12.2a
611.69
D
0.8b
20.97
D
0.8b
25.21
2-Methylpropyl hexanoate
D
<0.0
2.02
ND
—
—
ND
—
—
[(E)-hex-4-enyl] butanoate
D
0.2a
10.98
ND
—
—
D
0.2a
7.15
3-Methylbutyl hexanoate
D
0.2
8.59
ND
—
—
ND
—
—
2-Methylpropyl acetate
ND
—
—
D
2.6a
70.57
D
2.2a
73.18
Hexyl acetate
ND
—
—
D
0.3a
8.10
D
0.2a
6.78
3-Methylbutyl butanoate
D
24.5a
1226.02
D
9.0b
243.30
D
0.2c
6.56
Hexyl butanoate
ND
—
D
0.1a
3.47
D
0.2a
5.19
[(E)-Hex-4-enyl] pentanoate
D
0.3
13.92
ND
—
—
ND
—
—
Propanoic acid, 2-methyl-, 1-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-2-methyl-1,3-propanediyl ester
ND
—
—
D
0.1
2.08
ND
—
—
Total esters (RA%)
65.0%
35.0%
25.4%
Aldehydes
Hexanal
D
0.8a
39.96
ND
—
—
D
5.3b
177.85
(E)-2-hexenal
D
1.3b
64.51
D
7.8a
209.85
D
8.9a
297.55
Decanal
D
<0.0
2.12
ND
—
—
ND
—
—
(E)-3-hexenal
ND
—
—
D
0.3
8.35
ND
—
—
Total aldehydes (RA%)
2.1%
8.1%
14.2%
Alcohols
2-Methyl-1-propanol
D
0.1
5.93
ND
—
—
ND
—
—
Z-4-Dodecenol
D
<0.0
1.65
ND
—
—
ND
—
—
2-Methyl-1-butanol
D
1.8
89.34
ND
—
—
ND
—
—
Total alcohols (RA%)
1.9%
0.0%
0.0%
Benzenic derivatives
Benzaldehyde
D
0.1a
3.18
D
0.1a
2.14
D
0.1a
3.31
1-Ethylcyclohexene
D
<0.0
1.53
ND
—
—
ND
—
—
2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol
D
0.2
11.69
ND
—
—
ND
—
—
1,2,3-Trimethoxy-5-prop-2-enylbenzene
D
0.3a
17.14
ND
—
—
D
0.3a
9.83
Total benzenic derivatives (RA%)
0.6%
0.1%
0.4%
Ethers
(E)-3-Hexenyl methyl ether
ND
—
—
D
0.2
5.45
ND
—
—
Total ethers (RA%)
0.0%
0.2%
0.0%
Total number of aroma compounds detected
27
16
15
D: detected; ND: not detected; RA (%): relative abundance (%). Values bearing different superscript letters within the same row are statistically significant at 95% confidence level.When comparing relative abundance percentage (RA%) of total esters, aroma profile of naturally ripened banana consists of 65.0% of esters, whereas in ethephon-treated samples, it was 35.0%. The lowest percentage of esters was noted in acetylene-treated samples as there was only 25.4% of esters. This emphasizes the fact that ester accumulation during ripening is closely related with ethylene biosynthesis [13].3-Methylbutyl butanoate was the most abundant volatile compound in naturally ripened samples, accounting for 24.5% of RA%. However, 3-methylbutyl acetate was the most abundant component in treated samples accounting for 11.9% and 10.6% of RA, respectively, in ethephon- and acetylene-treated samples. According to Pino and Febles [22], 3-methylbutyl acetate (ripe banana), 3-methylbutyl 3-methylbutanoate (fruity banana like), and 3-methylbutyl butanoate (fruity banana peel) are key compounds as well as the most abundant compounds in banana aroma. Accordingly, in naturally ripened samples, these three esters were recorded as the most abundant compounds accounting for 8, 12.2, and 24.5% of RA%, respectively. However, 3-methylbutyl 3-methylbutanoate was detected at significantly minor percentages (0.8% in ethephon-/acetylene-treated samples). 3-methylbutyl butanoate was detected in significantly low percentages (0.2% in acetylene-treated bananas). Ethyl acetate, which is responsible for fruity flower aroma according to Bugaud and Alter [17], is considered as an important odour-active compound in banana aroma profile [22]. Ethyl acetate was absent in ethephon- and acetylene-treated samples.The percentage of aldehydes was highest (14.2%) in acetylene-treated banana, while the lowest (2.1%) was found in naturally ripened banana. This is in contrast with the findings of Vermeir et al. [23] and Sonmezdag et al. [13], where it was recorded that the aldehyde contents of naturally ripened banana were much higher than those of the artificially ripened banana. (E)-2-hexenal can be considered as the major aldehyde present in banana aroma and it is also consistent with earlier research work [13, 22, 24, 25]. However, RA% of (E)-2-hexenal was significantly low in naturally ripened samples when compared to treated samples.Alcoholic compounds are decreased during ripening process [13, 26]. None of the alcoholic compounds were detected in ethephon- and acetylene-treated banana.


## 4.3. Organic Acids

Organic acids are natural compounds available in banana flesh contributing to the acidic nature, which is an important quality parameter in banana. During fruit ripening, organic acid levels decrease along with accumulation of sugars in fruit flesh [27]. As in many climacteric fruits, malic acid and citric acid are the most abundant organic acids in banana flesh (Table 3).Table 3
Organic acids at fully yellow stage.
Organic acids
Natural ripening
Ethephon
Acetylene
Malic acid (mg/100 g)
544.30 ± 2.80a
210.88 ± 1.70b
340.94 ± 1.81c
Citric acid (mg/100 g)
341.67 ± 0.32a
109.98 ± 0.40b
92.94 ± 1.53c
Tartaric acid (mg/100 g)
60.93 ± 2.54a
15.28 ± 0.35b
53.33 ± 2.45a
Oxalic acid (mg/100 g)
57.3 ± 1.56a
19.57 ± 1.04b
25.43 ± 2.85b
Values bearing different superscript letters within the same row are statistically significant at 95% confidence level.According to Figure1, citric acid is the most abundant organic acid at fully green stage (stage 1), while tartaric acid and oxalic acid were detected in low amounts as 16.1 ± 2.3 and 30.8 ± 1.6 mg/100 g, respectively. This record is in contrast with that of Wyman and Palmer [28], where it was found that oxalic acid is the predominant acid at raw stage of banana. This might be due to the difference in the variety since Musa acuminata, AAB, a type of sour banana, was used in the present analysis. Citric acid shows an increasing trend until day 6 (stage 4) where it reaches its peak. The amount of malic acid at stage 1 was 200.83 ± 2.08 mg/100 g and it increases during ripening, reaches its maximum at day 8 (stage 6), and decreases when it reaches overripe stage (stage 7). This behavior of malic acid shows good agreement with Wyman and Palmer [28] and Agravante et al. [29].Figure 1
Organic acid changes during natural ripening.Furthermore, it is seen that the variation of malic acid somewhat corresponds with respiration rate of the fruit. It increases up to a point where ripening begins and then declines after that. This behavior was obtained by Harris and Poland [30] as well. Pua et al. [31] further clarified that malic acid accumulation in banana flesh during ripening occurs through glyoxylate cycle, regulated by MaMS-1, which can be induced by ethylene. Simply, it exhibits that exogenous ethylene treatment can also trigger malic acid accumulation in fruit flesh.Figure2 represents variation of malic, oxalic, citric, and tartaric acids during the ripening process of naturally ripened, ethephon-treated, and acetylene-treated banana. Similar variation pattern of malic acid can be noted in ethephon- and acetylene-treated banana where malic acid level increases continuously during the ripening process and it reaches peak at the overripe stage. However, when we consider malic acid content at stage 6 (Table 3), malic acid is significantly high in naturally ripened banana and significantly low in ethephon-treated banana.Figure 2
Changes of organic acid in flesh during ripening of banana treated with induced ripening agents: (a) malic acid, (b) citric acid, (c) oxalic acid, and (d) tartaric acid.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)Citric acid shows a sudden reduction in first 2 days in both ethephon- and acetylene-treated banana (Figure2(b)). This may be due to the sudden activation of respiratory climacteric and utilization of citric acid in tricarboxylic acid cycle for respiration [32]. In natural ripening, the similar reduction of citric acid can be seen after stage 4. Significantly high citric acid level was detected in naturally ripened samples at stage 6 compared to other two samples (Table 3).Oxalic acid is reported as the acid responsible for the astringent taste in raw banana flesh fully or partly [33]. Oxalic acid content increases up to day 4, after which there is a sudden drop within next two days and rise up again. The reduction of oxalic acid at climacteric rise was noted in the study by Wyman and Palmer [28] as well. This reduction may be due to oxalic acid being utilized as the CO2 source at climacteric rise [34]. In ethephon- and acetylene-treated samples, oxalic acid shows this reduction within first two days indicating the sudden activation of climacteric rise just after the treatments. However, oxalic acid content at stage 6 as shown in Table 2, significantly high in naturally ripened banana.Tartaric acid increases till stage 6, reaches its maximum, and reduces at stage 7 in acetylenetreated samples. However, the acid varies in a different manner in ethephon-treated samples where it increases continuously till stage 7. Nevertheless, tartaric acid content at stage 6 is significantly low in ethephon-treated samples, when compared to other two which can cause low level of total acidity in banana flesh.


## 4.4. Sugars

During ripening, starch is degraded rapidly, while sugars get accumulated [33]. Well-matured banana contains nearly 20–25% of starch by fresh weight before ripening [35]. Starch degradation is one of the key mechanisms in banana fruit, which causes softening of the fruit during ripening [10] and it supplies carbon for sucrose synthesis [36]. Under this analysis, fructose, glucose, and sucrose were detected in banana flesh, while maltose was not detected at any stage of ripeness complying with Yang and Ho [37] and Kheng et al. [32]. None of the sugars were detected at fully green stage (Day 0). As Figure 3 depicts, both fructose and glucose showed an increasing trend during natural ripening till the fruit reaches stage 6 (Day 8), while fructose and glucose reduces when it comes to stage 7. There is a sudden increment in fructose and glucose contents after the treatments of ethephon and acetylene. Ratio of fructose to glucose at all stages of ripeness is close to unity, regardless of the treatment, indicating that the immediate precursor of these sugars is sucrose in all treatments.Figure 3
Changes of sugars in flesh during ripening of banana treated with induced ripening agents: (a) fructose and (b) glucose.
(a)
(b)Sucrose was detected only in naturally ripened banana at stage 6 (Table4), and sucrose was not available in treated samples at any stage. This result does not correspond with Seymour [33], Kheng et al. [32], and Lizana [38], where it has been found that sucrose is the predominant sugar at green stage of banana and it shows a decreasing pattern during ripening. However, according to Lizana [38], sucrose formation can be suppressed by environmental conditions mostly by high temperatures. This controversial result may be due to change in the variety of banana under the study and the high temperate weather in Sri Lanka.Table 4
Fructose, glucose, maltose, and sucrose at fully yellow stage.
Sugars
Natural ripening
Ethephon
Acetylene
Fructose (g/100 g)
7.72 ± 0.17a
6.55 ± 0.11b
5.83 ± 0.05c
Glucose (g/100 g)
7.37 ± 0.33a
6.53 ± 0.57a
5.64 ± 0.19b
Sucrose (g/100 g)
1.11 ± 0.01
ND
ND
Maltose (g/100 g)
ND
ND
ND
Values bearing different superscript letters within the same row are statistically significant at 95% confidence level.As shown in Table4, glucose and fructose contents are significantly low in acetylene-treated banana at stage 6, which can lead to low sensory quality of fruits at eat ripe stage.


## 5. Conclusion

The present research studies the effects of ethephon and acetylene treatments as induced ripening agents onAmbul banana (Musa acuminata, AAB). Efficiency of enhancing the ripening process was found to be similar in these two agents at 1000 ppm level. High C∗ value on peel and high firmness in flesh were recorded at fully yellow stage in acetylene-treated fruits compared to natural ripening and ethephon treatment. The results of aroma volatile analysis show that naturally ripened banana is more aromatic than treated banana as total number of volatile compounds detected was 27, 16, and 15 respectively in naturally ripened, ethephon-treated, and acetylene-treated banana. The percentage of esters was very poor in acetylene-treated banana. 3-methylbutyl 3-methylbutanoate, which is responsible for fruity banana-like odour according aroma descriptions, was detected in low levels in treated fruits. Organic acid analysis shows that malic acid and citric acid were the most abundant organic acids in banana flesh. Citric acid was predominant at fully green stage, while malic acid was predominant at fully yellow stage. Citric acid, malic acid, and oxalic acid contents are significantly affected by ethephon and acetylene as those three acids were significantly high in naturally ripened bananas. Furthermore, fructose and glucose were the most available sugars in banana flesh. The ratio between fructose to glucose was close to unity in both naturally ripened and treated bananas. Sucrose was detected only in naturally ripened bananas. As well, acetylene treatment significantly lowers the glucose and fructose content in flesh. In summary, 1000 ppm ethephon and acetylene treatment can enhance the ripening process in banana. Nevertheless, both ethephon and acetylene treatments lead to a poor aroma profile and lower levels of organic acids and sugars.



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*Source: 7653154-2019-10-10.xml*