LED Lighting Modulates Color Development in Banana Fruit During Storage: A Controlled Study on Packaging

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the impact of spectral LED lighting (red, blue, green, and no light) on the color stability of banana fruit during postharvest storage. At the same time, the packaging type was held constant across all treatments to isolate the effect of light quality. Bananas were imaged under controlled conditions, and color parameters ( L *, a *, b *, chroma, browning index, and total color difference) were quantified using ImageJ in the CIE Lab * color space. Results showed that blue and green LED lighting significantly enhanced color retention (higher L * and chroma, lower browning index) compared to red or no‐light conditions ( p < 0.05). While packaging type (polyethylene [PE], polyvinyl chloride [PVC], plastic, or unpackaged) was maintained as a controlled variable, unpackaged fruits exhibited accelerated browning and color degradation, confirming its role in minimizing environmental exposure. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the first two components accounted for > 98% of the total variance, with blue and green lighting clusters tightly grouped with PE and PVC packaging, indicating superior color preservation. Unpackaged samples formed a distinct, isolated cluster, confirming their rapid quality loss. These findings demonstrate that blue and green LED lighting are highly effective in maintaining the visual quality of banana fruit during storage, and that appropriate packaging serves as a critical environmental buffer to maximize this effect. The results support integrating targeted LED lighting with standard packaging to extend shelf life in banana supply chains.