Characterization of banana texture patterns during postharvest storage using force-deformation curves and multivariate analysis

Cavendish bananas were stored in macro-perforated (aerobic ripening) and non-perforated (low O₂/high CO₂) flow-pack films to induce contrasting ripening behaviors, including the stay-green disorder. Texture was assessed using force–deformation curves obtained via Magness-Taylor penetration tests. Principal Component Analysis was applied to interpolated texture curves with 2900 data points, enabling dimensionality reduction and the extraction of representative variables. Cluster analysis identified distinct textural patterns associated with storage time and packaging conditions. A one-way multivariate analysis of variance revealed two orthogonal canonical dimensions of textural variability. The first (Canonical 1) was primarily associated with basic force–deformation parameters (FMT, Slp, AreaT), while the second (Canonical 2) was linked to post failure deformation indices. Bananas stored in non-perforated film showed abnormal softening despite limited external color change, indicating internal ripening anomalies not detectable through conventional color-based assessments. The integration of mechanical testing and unsupervised multivariate techniques enabled the identification of representative texture patterns, supporting their use as reference profiles for postharvest quality control.