EFFECT OF DIFFERENT CONCENTRATIONS OF PROPOLIS EXTRACT COATING ON POSTHARVEST QUALITY OF BANANA ARTIFICIALLY INOCULATED WITH Colletotrichum gloesporioides

Coating is one of the methods to prevent postharvest loss in food industry. Propolis seems to be promising as a coating due its waxy properties, high antifungal activity and less toxicity. In this study, propolis ethanol extract coating were tested for the antifungal activity against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, the causative fungus that caused anthracnose disease on banana (Musa acuminata). All samples were artificially inoculated with C. gloeosporioides and the disease severity index (DSI) was measured. Other postharvest qualities of banana tested were weight loss, total soluble solid (TSS), colour and titratable acidity (TA). Results showed that the control banana was more susceptible to the fungal infection (60% necrosis) compared to the treated banana. The propolis coating successfully inhibited the fungus activity of C. gloeosporioides activity on banana during storage. The higher concentration of extract coating seems to be better effectiveness against the fungus. Moreover the control banana showed higher weight loss (6.92%) and total soluble solid (p<0.05) compared to coated banana during storage. In conclusion, banana treated with 11% concentration of propolis coating are promising for improving the colour, total soluble solid content and titratable acidity and able to inhibit artificially anthracnose disease caused by C. gloeosporioides on banana.