Note. Physiological changes in bananas subjected to automodified atmosphere

Physiological changes during the ripening of whole and peeled bananas store d in chambers with automodified atmospheres were evaluated. Calcium carbide was applied to preclimacteric bananas for ripening initiation. Three diffe rent lots were placed into glass containers, which were maintained at 20 +/ - 0.5 degrees C. The treatments evaluated were: peeled bananas inside the g lass container, whole (unpeeled) bananas inside the glass containers, and c ontrol, unpeeled bananas outside the chambers. Peeling of firm green fruits did not induce spoilage nor interfere with the normal ripening of the bana nas when they were kept inside the automodified atmosphere. Under this stor age, peeled bananas showed better qualities than whole bananas. The ripenes s of peeled bananas in automodified atmospheres was similar to that of cont rol fruits.