TITLE:
Effect of Full-Spectrum White Led Light Intensity on Pigment-Related Optical Responses, Ripening, and Postharvest Quality of Bananas (Musa spp.)
AUTHORS:
Arouna Khalil Fanny, Laura Mihai, Banah Florent Degni, Yao Hervé Yao, Labile Lamah, Cissé Théodore Haba
KEYWORDS:
Banana Ripening, Postharvest Management, Spectral Reflectance, Spectral Indices, Light Luminance, Non-Destructive Monitoring
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Applied Sciences,
Vol.16 No.11,
November
11,
2026
ABSTRACT: Controlling postharvest ripening in bananas remains a major challenge for reducing food losses and improving storage strategies. This study evaluated three illumination levels (low, medium, and high) using a full-spectrum LED source during 14 days of storage. Fifteen banana fruits, with five fruits monitored within each illumination condition, were monitored through an integrated, non-destructive approach combining spectral reflectance, pigment-related spectral indices, digital colorimetry (RGB and CIELAB), mass variation, and correlation analysis. Results showed coherent temporal patterns across spectral, pigment-related, and colorimetric variables, consistent with the progression of ripening and associated changes in the optical properties of the fruit peel. The temporal dynamics of ripening-related optical responses differed among illumination conditions and depended on the parameter and ripening stage. Early spectral reflectance changes were more pronounced under low luminance, whereas some pigment-related spectral indices and yellowing-related color parameters exhibited distinct trajectories under medium and high luminance at intermediate stages. Despite these differences, the convergence of most parameters at later stages indicated that the observed differences among illumination conditions were mainly related to the timing and amplitude of ripening-related changes rather than to the overall final ripening trajectory. Weight loss reached approximately 34% - 37% after 14 days across conditions, with no significant luminance × time interaction. Moderate to strong correlations among spectral indices, pigment-related variables, and colorimetric parameters highlighted coherent relationships among the measured optical characteristics during ripening. The integration of spectral indices with colorimetric and physiological measurements provides a useful non-destructive framework for monitoring banana maturity and ripening progression. Controlled light exposure may represent a potential approach for modulating ripening-related optical responses, although further studies combining different spectral compositions, replicated experimental units, and direct biochemical measurements are required to validate the underlying physiological mechanisms.