The effect of ionizing radiation on ethylene sensitivity and postharvest ripening of banana fruit

Bananas are climacteric fruits and exhibit climacteric patterns in both their ethylene (C₂H₄) production and respiration rates during ripening. Treatment with C₂H₄ accelerated the ripening process, as indicated by colour changes. Gamma irradiation of green bananas, at doses of 0.4 kGy or greater, resulted in extensive tissue damage, undesirable colour development and changes in respiration and C₂H₄ production. However, irradiation at 0.2 kGy with a dose rate of 7.35 kGy h^-1 effectively delayed ripening of the fruit by decreasing its sensitivity to its own endogenous C₂H₄ without causing any phytotoxicity. Irradiation at this dose did not affect ripening using high concentrations of exogenous C₂H₄.