POSTHARVEST CHARACTERISTICS AND QUALITIES OF SELECTED BANANA (MUSA SPP.) CULTIVARS IN OMAN

Yield, fruit morphology, postharvest characteristics and qualities of five, locally grown, banana (Musa spp.) cultivars (‘Somali’, ‘Malindi’, ‘Williams’ (AAA genome, Cavendish subgroup), ‘Fard’ (AAB genome) and ‘Negal’ (ABB genome) were evaluated at a private farm at Al-Swaiq, Oman. ‘Somali’ produced the heaviest bunches. There were no significant differences between the other cultivars. ‘Williams’ had the largest number of hands. Peel color did not vary significantly between the cultivars, though ‘Williams’ had a tendency toward a greenish fruit color. ‘Malindi’ had the firmest pulp, while ‘Negal’ had the softest pulp. The pulp of all cultivars, apart from ‘Negal’, had a pH<5, but ‘Negal’, followed by ‘Fard’ had the most acidic taste. ‘Fard’ was the sweetest, followed by ‘Malindi’ and ‘Somali’. ‘Negal’ had the lowest total soluble solids:acid ratio. With 20 days, ‘Somali’, harvested at 3/4 full stage, had the longest green life of all tested cultivars, while ‘Negal’ had the shortest shelf life after ripening.