Christophe Bugaud1, Charlène Joannès-Dumec2, Jacques Louisor3, Philippe Tixier4,5, Frédéric Salmon2. 1. CIRAD, UMR QUALISUD, Campus Agro-environnemental Caraïbe, Quartier Petit Morne, F-97285, Lamentin, Martinique, France. 2. CIRAD, UMR AGAP, F-97130, Capesterre-Belle-Eau, Guadeloupe, FWI, France. 3. Institut Technique Tropical, F-97130, Capesterre-Belle-Eau, Guadeloupe, FWI, France. 4. CIRAD, UPR GECO, TA B-26/PS4, Boulevard de la Lironde, F-34398, Montpellier Cedex 5, France. 5. CATIE, Departamento de Agricultura y Agroforesteria, 7170, Cartago, Turrialba 30501, Costa Rica.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The effect of temperature on chilling injury during fruit growth was studied in a new banana hybrid CIRAD925 in which seasonal variability in chilling susceptibility was observed when fruits were stored at 13 °C. RESULTS: The relationship between the response to chilling (presence/absence) and the temperature during banana fruit growth was examined with a logistic regression model. An explanatory variable XN , P was defined as the mean temperature during a period, expressed in weeks, which began N week(s) after flowering and lasted P week(s). The model was calibrated with 143 bunches with a green life of 30 ± 5 days and validated with 156 bunches grown in six plots under different growing conditions. Chilling injury was best predicted by the mean temperature during the period beginning 1 week after flowering and lasting 5 weeks (X1,5 ). Above a mean temperature of 24.1 °C in the period concerned, banana fruits had a 95% probability of chilling injury at 13 °C. Below a temperature of 23.4 °C, banana fruits only had a 5% probability of chilling injury. CONCLUSION: The results provide a tool to predict chilling susceptibility in banana fruit whatever the thermal conditions in tropical regions.
BACKGROUND: The effect of temperature on chilling injury during fruit growth was studied in a new banana hybrid CIRAD925 in which seasonal variability in chilling susceptibility was observed when fruits were stored at 13 °C. RESULTS: The relationship between the response to chilling (presence/absence) and the temperature during banana fruit growth was examined with a logistic regression model. An explanatory variable XN , P was defined as the mean temperature during a period, expressed in weeks, which began N week(s) after flowering and lasted P week(s). The model was calibrated with 143 bunches with a green life of 30 ± 5 days and validated with 156 bunches grown in six plots under different growing conditions. Chilling injury was best predicted by the mean temperature during the period beginning 1 week after flowering and lasting 5 weeks (X1,5 ). Above a mean temperature of 24.1 °C in the period concerned, banana fruits had a 95% probability of chilling injury at 13 °C. Below a temperature of 23.4 °C, banana fruits only had a 5% probability of chilling injury. CONCLUSION: The results provide a tool to predict chilling susceptibility in banana fruit whatever the thermal conditions in tropical regions.