EVALUATION OF SOLUBLE SUGAR AND TOTAL STARCH IN MUSA PARADISIACA (LINN) AFTER HARVEST
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Plantain (Musa paradisiaca) is a major staple crop widely consumed in tropical regions, particularly in West Africa, where it contributes significantly to household food security, dietary energy, and income generation. Despite its nutritional and economic relevance, plantain is highly perishable and undergoes rapid biochemical transformations during postharvest storage. Among these changes, the conversion of starch into soluble sugars is particularly critical, as it influences sweetness, texture, and consumer acceptability. This study evaluated the postharvest dynamics of soluble sugar and total starch in Musa paradisiaca during a two-week storage period, emphasizing optimal consumption and processing stages.Freshly harvested mature-green plantains (week 0) were peeled, sliced, dehydrated at 65 °C for 8 hours 15 minutes, and milled into flour for biochemical analysis. Samples were collected weekly from a single plantain bunch (weeks 0, 1, and 2), and soluble sugar and starch contents were quantified using standard AOAC procedures. The results revealed distinct, climacteric-associated patterns of carbohydrate metabolism. At harvest, plantains contained relatively low soluble sugar (1.59 ± 0.31 g/100 g) and higher starch (1.14 ± 0.04 g/100 g), indicating predominance of storage carbohydrates. By week 1, soluble sugar increased slightly (1.71 ± 0.08 g/100 g), while starch declined (1.09 ± 0.05 g/100 g), reflecting early starch hydrolysis. By week 2, starch decreased markedly (0.98 ± 0.03 g/100 g), whereas soluble sugar rose significantly (2.40 ± 0.16 g/100 g), confirming enzymatic conversion of starch to sugars under ethylene-regulated ripening.The inverse relationship between starch and sugar contents highlights the biochemical basis of ripening and informs appropriate timing for consumption and processing. Nutritionally, plantains consumed within week 0–1 are suitable for health-conscious individuals and starch-based preparations, while week 2 fruits are preferable for food industries requiring higher sweetness, such as in confectionery, beverages, and bakery applications. These findings provide evidence-based guidance on the optimal utilization of Musa paradisiaca and emphasize further research on carbohydrate metabolism under varied postharvest conditions.
Keywords: Musa paradisiaca, postharvest ripening, starch hydrolysis, soluble sugar, carbohydrate metabolism
Full-Text Access Notice
In accordance with the NERD Policy on promoting peer-reviewed publication, public access to the full text of a project, thesis or dissertation is restricted for three years, allowing the author and supervisors sufficient time to pursue peer-reviewed publication.
During this period, researchers with legitimate academic or research purposes may request authorisation directly from the author to enable NERD to release the indexed full texts of the work using the form below.