ENUMERATION AND IDENTITY OF MICROORGANISMS ISOLATED FROM THE SURFACE OF BANANA FRUITS AT 3 DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES

This study examines the microbial ecology of the surface of developing banana fruits, at Carnarvon (Latitude 25 degrees S) in Western Austra lia. The fruit surface microflora was determined in April (autumn), Au gust (winter) and December (summer) for three stages of fruit developm ent. The number of bacteria, yeasts, and filamentous fungi were determ ined and the fungal isolates identified. The peel of the mature prehar vest stage fruits harboured more microorganisms than the two earlier s tages of fruit development. More microorganisms were isolated from fru its sampled in August than in April or December. In December, a high n umber of yeasts were isolated from the fruits at the mature preharvest stage of fruit development. When considered separately as yeasts, bac teria or filamentous fungi, there was no significant difference in the number between development stages, but there was a difference between seasons. We conclude that season influences microbial populations on banana fruit surfaces in the arid environment of Carnarvon, more than the stage of fruit development. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.