A study on the morphological, physicochemical, nutritional and functional properties of commercially grown banana cultivars in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka

Authors

  • Kothalawala Liyanage Oshani Dhanushka Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Southern province, Kamburupitiya (81100), Sri Lanka
  • Maneesha Kodikara Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Southern province, Kamburupitiya (81100), Sri Lanka
  • Perumpuli Arachchige Buddhika Niroshie Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Southern province, Kamburupitiya (81100), Sri Lanka
  • Adhikaram Arachchige Ruvina Promodhi Lakshani Department of Agricultural Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Southern province, Kamburupitiya (81100), Sri Lanka
  • Wathsala Kalyani Weerasinghe Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Southern province, Kamburupitiya (81100), Sri Lanka
  • Nilanthi Dahanayaka Department of Agricultural Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Southern province, Kamburupitiya (81100), Sri Lanka

Keywords:

Antioxidant content, banana, chemical property, functional property, nutrient content

Abstract

Banana (Musa spp.) is a commercially grown fruit crop in Sri Lanka, with 29 different cultivars grown in the country. This study aimed to compare the morphological, physical, chemical, nutritional, and functional properties of eight different banana cultivars (Seeni, Ambul, Kolikutu, Puwalu, Rath kesel, Anamalu, Cavendish, and Ambon) commonly grown in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. All the selected banana cultivars exhibited significant differences in morphology. The Rath kesel cultivar exhibited the highest total soluble solids (18.4 ± 1.13), while the Ambul cultivar recorded the highest sugar content (36.4 ± 1.69 g/100 g). Regarding functional properties, the Kolikutu cultivar recorded the highest phenolic content (55.13 ± 0.6 mg/100 g) and total antioxidant content (948.00 ± 4.24%). The highest flavonoid content was recorded in the Ambon cultivar (2.52 ± 0.34). The study indicates that the tested banana cultivars are a rich source of nutrients and that their other properties differ from each other.

References

Ali, M. M., Janius, R. B., Nawi, N. M., & Hashim, N. (2018). Prediction of total soluble solids and pH in banana using near infrared spectroscopy. Journal of Engineering Science and Technology, 13(1), 254–264.

Anyasi, T. A., Jideani, A. I. O., & Mchau, G. A. (2015). Morphological, physicochemical, and antioxidant profile of noncommercial banana cultivars. Food Science and Nutrition, 3(3), 221–232. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.208

AOAC. (2000). Official methods of analysis (17th ed.). Association of Official Analytical Chemists.

Athukorala, W., Karunarathna, M., Wilson, C., & Managi, S. (2020). Conservation of genetic resources of crops: Farmer preferences for banana diversity in Sri Lanka. Journal of Forest Economics, 35(2–3), 177–206. https://doi.org/10.1561/112.00000513

Baker, K., & Flatman, S. (2007). Protein analysis. In G. Stacey & J. Davis (Eds.), Medicines from animal cell culture (pp. 443–477). John Wiley & Sons. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470723791.ch23

Best, R., Lewis, D. A., & Nasser, N. (1984). The anti-ulcerogenic activity of the unripe plantain banana (Musa species). British Journal of Pharmacology, 82(1), 107–116. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-5381.1984.tb16447.x

Chandra, S., Khan, S., Avula, B., Lata, H., Yang, M. H., Elsohly, M. A., & Khan, I. A. (2014). Assessment of total phenolic and flavonoid content, antioxidant properties, and yield of aeroponically and conventionally grown leafy vegetables and fruit crops: A comparative study. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/253875

Charles, R. J., & Tung, M. A. (1993). Physical, rheological and chemical properties of banana during ripening. Journal of Food Science, 38(3), 456–459. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2621.1973.tb01453.x

Cuvelier, M. E., & Berset, C. A. (1995). Standard calibration techniques. The Microflown E-Book, 28, 25–30.

Dadzie, B. K., & Orchard, J. E. (1997). Routine post-harvest screening of banana/plantain hybrids: Criteria and methods (INIBAP Technical Guidelines 2). International Plant Genetic Resources Institute.

Dagnew, A., Assefa, W., Kebede, G., Ayele, L., Mulualem, T., Mensa, A., Kenbon, D., Gabrekiqrstons, E., Minuye, M., Alemu, A., Beker, J., & Seyoum, M. (2021). Evaluation of banana (Musa spp.) cultivars for growth, yield and fruit quality. Ethiopian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 31(3), 1–25.

Falade, K. O., & Oyeyinka, S. A. (2015). Color, chemical and functional properties of plantain cultivars and cooking banana flour as affected by drying method and maturity. Journal of Food Processing and Preservation, 39(6), 816–828. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfpp.12292

Fatemeh, S. R., Saifullah, R., Abbas, F. M. A., & Azhar, M. E. (2012). Total phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidant activity of banana pulp and peel flours: Influence of variety and stage of ripeness. International Food Research Journal, 19(3), 1041–1046.

Fernando, H. R. P., Srilaong, V., Pongprasert, N., Boonyarithongchai, P., & Jitareerat, P. (2014). Changes in antioxidant properties and chemical composition during ripening in banana variety “Hom Thong” (AAA group) and “Khai” (AA group). International Food Research Journal, 21(2), 749–754.

Gadhave, R. K., Kaur, R., & Prasad, K. (2023). Effect of acid pretreatment on physicochemical, optical, functional, thermal, and morphological characteristics of unripe plantain and banana flour. Journal of Food Chemistry and Nanotechnology, 9(1), 27–35. https://doi.org/10.17756/jfcn.2023-147

Harker, F. R., Maindonald, J. H., & Jackson, P. J. (1996). Penetrometer measurement of apple and kiwifruit firmness: Operator and instrument differences. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science, 121(5), 927–936. https://doi.org/10.21273/jashs.121.5.927

Hasanah, R., & Daningsih, E., Titin. (2017). The analysis of nutrient and fiber content of banana (Musa paradisiaca) sold in Pontianak, Indonesia. Biofarmasi Journal of Natural Product Biochemistry, 15(1), 21–25. https://doi.org/10.13057/biofar/f150104

Khoozani, A. A., Bekhit, A. E-D. A., & Birch, J. (2019). Effects of different drying conditions on the starch content, thermal properties, and some of the physicochemical parameters of whole green banana flour. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 130, 938–946. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiomac.2019.03.010

Kojima, K. (1996). Softening of banana fruit: Relationship between firmness and chemical composition. Japan Agriculture Research Quarterly, 30, 269–274.

Konopacka, D., & Plocharski, W. J. (2004). Effect of storage conditions on relationship between apple firmness and texture acceptability. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 32, 205–211.

Lanka, S. (2012). Physical and mechanical properties of three commercially grown banana (Musa acuminata Colla) cultivars in Sri Lanka. Tropical Agricultural Research, 24(1), 42–53. https://doi.org/10.4038/tar.v24i1.7988

Mohapatra, D., Mishra, S., & Sutar, N. (2010). Banana and its by-product utilisation: An overview. Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research, 69, 323–329.

Nadeeshani, H., Samarasinghe, G., Wimalasiri, S., Silva, R., & Madhujith, T. (2019). Evaluation of the nutritional value of selected banana varieties grown in Sri Lanka. In Proceedings of 2nd International Conference on Food Quality, Safety and Security 2018 (Vol. 1, pp. 17–25). https://doi.org/10.17501/foodqualss.2018.2103

Perera, O. D. A. N., Basnayaka, B. M. K. M. K., & Karunarathne, A. M. (1999). Physiochemical characteristics, popularity and susceptibility to anthracnose of some local banana cultivars. Journal of National Science Foundation, 27(2), 119–130. https://doi.org/10.4038/jnsfsr.v27i2.2985

Plantain, M. L., & Afolayan, A. J. (2019). Comparative evaluation of the nutritive, mineral, and antinutritive composition of Musa sinensis L. (banana) and Musa paradisiaca L. (plantain) fruit compartments. Plants, 8(12), 598. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants8120598

Pua, E. C. (2007). Banana. In E. C. Pua & M. R. Davey (Eds.), Biotechnology in agriculture and forestry: Vol. 60. Transgenic crops V (pp. 3–34). Springer.

Rabbani, G. H., Larson, C. P., Islam, R., Saha, U. R., & Kabir, A. (2010). Green banana-supplemented diet in the home management of acute and prolonged diarrhoea in children: A community-based trial in rural Bangladesh. Tropical Medicine and International Health, 15(10), 1132–1139. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3156.2010.02608.x

Rajput, A., Memon, M., Memon, K. S., Tunio, S., Sial, T. A., & Khan, M. A. (2017). Nutrient composition of banana fruit as affected by farm manure, composted pressmud and mineral fertilizers. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 49(1), 101–108.

Sad, A. A., Hoque, M. M., & Zzaman, W. (2018). Physicochemical and antioxidant properties of banana varieties and sensorial evaluation of jelly prepared from those varieties available in Sylhet region. International Journal of Food Studies, 7(2), 89–97. https://doi.org/10.7455/IFS/7.2.2018.A8

Sii, S., & Nandini, P. V. (2017). Chemical and nutrient composition of selected banana varieties of Kerala. International Journal of Advanced Engineering, Management and Science, 3(4). https://doi.org/10.24001/iaems.3.4.21

Wainwright, H., & Hughes, P. (1978). Changes in banana pulp colour during ripening. Fruits, 45(1), 25–28.

Wasala, W. M. C. B., Dharmasena, D. A. N., Dissanayake, T. M. R., & Thilakarathne, B. M. K. S. (2012). Physical and mechanical properties of three commercially grown banana (Musa acuminata Colla) cultivars in Sri Lanka. Tropical Agricultural Research, 24(1), 42–53. https://doi.org/10.4038/tar.v24i1.7988

Youryon, P., & Supapvanich, B. (2017). Physicochemical quality, and antioxidant changes in ‘Leb Mue Nang’ banana fruit during ripening. Agriculture and Natural Resources, 51, 47–52. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.anres.2015.12.004

Downloads

Published

12-05-2025

How to Cite

Oshani Dhanushka, K. L., Kodikara, M., Buddhika Niroshie, P. A., Ruvina Promodhi Lakshani, R. P. L., Weerasinghe, W. K., & Dahanayaka, N. (2025). A study on the morphological, physicochemical, nutritional and functional properties of commercially grown banana cultivars in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. Food Agricultural Sciences and Technology, 11(2), 83–100. retrieved from https://ph02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/stej/article/view/255182