International Journal of Research & Review (www.ijrrjournal.com) 71 Vol.5; Issue: 7; July 2018 International Journal of Research and Review www.ijrrjournal.com E-ISSN: 2349-9788; P-ISSN: 2454-2237 Original Research Article Extending the Shelf-Life of Banana Cv. “Grande Naine” Using A Cold Room (Ecofrost) Dr. Parag Babaji Jadhav 1 , Nikhil Pradip Gurav 2 , Dattatraya B. More 3 1 Agril Research Expert, 2 Agri. Research Associate & 3 Head, Customer Consulting Cell, Ecofrost Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Survey No 134/1, 134/2,130/3, Jeevan Nagar, Tathawade, Pune, Maharashtra- 411 033. Corresponding Author: Dr. Parag Babaji Jadhav ABSTRACT Storage at 13ºC with 95% RH was evaluated as the best condition to maintain the shelf-life of the Banana fruit cv. Grande Naine. Fruit at green stage-1 that were treated with 1% Alum and 1% Benomyl for 10 minutes simultaneously and then vacuum packed in LDPE bag and stored inside cold room of Ecofrost retained a maximum storage life upto 25 to 30 days and the post-storage life was recorded as 2 to 3.5 days. Shelf life was recorded to be 4 to 6 days in ordinary room condition. Chilling injury, decay, crown rot severity and stem rot were noted as zero percentage inside cold room since starting of the experiment. Keywords: Banana, Grande Naine, Temperature, Ecofrost, Fruit, Storage, Alum, Benomyl. INTRODUCTION Bananas are a convenient way to add key nutrients to your diet. They are high in carbohydrates, vitamins, potassium, soluble fiber and protease inhibitors, which help to remove the stomach bacteria. Studies have proved that regularly eating banana fruit, help to maintain heart function, blood pressure levels, bone density, vision, digestion and kidney health. Banana fruit (Musa acuminata) develops better colour, texture, aroma, and sweetness as it ripens after harvest. In summer, banana fruit may ripen more quickly, while their ripening is slower in the winter season. There are ways to speed up and slow down the ripening process. Once ripened, banana fruit has a shelf life of two days before it begins to decay. Now-a-days, „Grande Naine‟, „Grand Naine‟ or „G9‟ is the widely grown banana cultivar in India. Crown rot severity, one of the most drastic postharvest diseases of banana can cause severe postharvest loss. In this study, effect of Alum (potassium aluminium sulphate) + Benomyl in combination with vacuum packaging was investigated in banana cv. „Grande Naine‟ at cold storage. The use of potassium alum in delatexing baths is important for the quality of bananas. It reduces fresh latex stains and prevents crown rot. Latex secretes from the wounds where the clusters were cut. The clusters were washed in „delatexing baths‟. It is generally recommended to add potassium alum to the delatexing baths. [1,2] This helps to remove the latex, [1,3] controls pathogens in the wash water [1,2] which results in maintenance of cosmetic appearance of fruits [4] and promotes the proper healing of the cutting wounds. [3,4] Fungal spores could go 5-7 mm deeper in to the crown tissue and establish