2/4/22, 10:15 PM Bagging | Improving the understanding of banana

Bagging

Bagging consists in placing a cover over the bunch to protect the fruit
Bagging
against damage caused by insects and other animals, by rubbing against
the leaves or by the application of chemical products[1
[2
. The innovation
is attributed to Carlos Gonzales Fajardo in 1956 in Guatemala. The
practice has since spread to all export plantations and is considered
essential to increase yield and improve fruit quality. The cover creates a 
microclimate that maintains a high temperature and prevents chill
damage. Depending on the study, the temperature over a 24-hour period
increases on average by 0.5°C inside the cover[3
and can increase by 7°C in
the warmest hours[4
. This microclimate can reduce by many days the
flower-to-harvest interval (between 4 to 14 days depending on the type of
cover and the environmental conditions) and increase bunch weight.

Contents
Methodology
The cover
Material
Perforations
Thickness
Colour Photo by Nicolas Fégeant, UGPBAN
Installing the cover
Impregnated covers
Recycling
Troubleshooting
References
Also on this website
Further reading

Methodology
There are two types of bagging : traditional (the cover is placed at the last horizontal hand stage, at which time the
bracts have fallen) and early bagging (when no hand is yet visible). This last practice requires removing the fallen
bracts that get stuck inside the cover. If they are not removed in time, the advantages of early bagging are not
realized. Where thrips are a problem, early bagging is recommended.

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Traditional bagging  Early bagging 

Photos: Nicolas Fegeant, UGPBAN
Bagging can also be associated with deflowering, the removal of false hands and tagging. Other bagging practices
that can protect the bunch and improve fruit quality are: double bagging, semi-early bagging, individual hand
bagging, Daypa bunch protectors and neck protectors.

Individual hand bagging  Daypa bunch protectors 

Photos: Nicolas Fegeant, UGPBAN

The cover
The cover is generally made of 0.08 mm thick polyethylene that is perforated every 76 mm. Each hole is 12.7mm in
diameter. The cover is 90 cm in diameter and 155 cm long. Biodegradable covers were also developed and tested in
various countries: polylactic acid based covers and entirely biodegradable covers that can be buried in the ground.

Material
Polyethylene is the most common type of plastic used to cover banana bunches.The first models were low density
but high-density polyethylene covers that are thinner but more resistant have since been developed. They are better
suited for early bagging. They also maintain an elevated temperature for a longer period of time.

Perforations
The presence of holes is important to prevent the multiplication of fungi. In the absence of perforations, the relative
humidity inside the cover is too high. The size of the holes varies: 12.7mm every 76 mm, 8 mm, 6 mm every 10 cm, 3
mm or micro-perforations.

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Thickness
The thickness of the cover does not affect its efficiency. It mainly has an impact on its cost and the environment. It
also depends on the local wind and temperature conditions. The thickness is generally between 12 and 25 µm.
Studies have reported that above 130 µm, the covers offer a better protection against the cold but is can cause
malformations and sunburns.

Colour
Various colours have been tested (pink, green, blue, white and black) as well as the transparency of the cover. The
colour acts as a filter of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), the wavelengths between 400 and 700 nm that
are used during photosynthesis. The industry usually uses blue or transparent covers. Blue covers let in 73% of the
wavelengths in the PAR, whereas transparent ones let in 93%. Nevertheless, blue covers produce heavier bunches
because it lets in the heat without causing burns because it blocks UV rays. In the Canary Islands, for example, blue
covers are also preferred at high altitudes. Blue covers also do not harden the peel one of the disadvantages of
bunch covers. Some transparent covers treated to block ultraviolet and infrared rays also perform as well as blue
covers.

Installing the cover
The cover is unfolded from the bottom to the top taking care not to damage the fruits. A
knot is tied above the first bract's scar. The knot must be high and tense to prevent the
accumulation of water on the first hands, which could cause burns by magnifying the sun
rays. The cover is unfolded from the bottom to the top taking care not to damage the fruits.
A knot is tied above the first bract's scar. The knot must be high and tense to prevent the
accumulation of water on the first hands, which could cause burns by magnifying the sun
rays.

The bottom opening of the cover is sometimes closed. The impact of this practice is
unknown. Depending on the perforations, it could interfere with the aeration of the bunch.
Photo: Nicolas Fégeant,
Impregnated covers UGPBAN
To better protect against insects, covers impregnated with insecticides were developed in
the 1970s. Concentrations of 0.5, 1 and 2% are effective against aphids, thrips, moths and beetles. The insecticides
used are chlorpirifos (1%) or bifenthrine (0.1%).

Some plantations, such as those managed by Dole, have reduced their used of covers impregnated with chlorpirifos.
Instead insecticide impregnated stripes are inserted inside the cover. New molecules, such as buprofezin, are being
tested and could further reduce the use of chlorpirifos, except when no alternative is yet available, as against scale
insects.

Covers impregnated with a mixture that includes cloves, garlic and pepper is used in organic production.

Recycling
Many plantations reuse or recycle the plastic covers. When the workers select the bunches to be harvested, they
lower them and carefully lift the bag in order to avoid damaging it. The plastic covers are put in a large bag and taken
to a collection centre, where they are sorted. Those that can be reused are pre-washed in water and soap and
transferred to a tank for a long period to remove stains and debris. They are then wrung to remove excess water and
hung on a line for drying. Once dry, they are stored in large bags for 4 weeks before being reused. The plastic covers
are reused 3 to 4 times, after which they are sent to a plastic recycling facility to be turned into corner boards (edge
protectors).

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Troubleshooting
Examples of damages that can result from not using a bunch cover or from not using it properly.

Burns caused by the cover  Damage caused by leaves  Burns caused by the sun 
rubbing against the fruit. rubbing against the fruit. (yellow tips).

Damage caused by thrips. 

Photos: Nicolas Fegeant, UGPBAN

References

1.
Berril, F.W. 1956. Bunch covers for bananas. Queensland Agricultural Journal 82(8):435440.
2.
Heenan, D.P. 1973. Bunch cover for bananas in the Northern District Papua, New Guinea. Agricultural Journal 24(4)156-161.
3.
Ganry, J. 1975. Influence du gainage des régimes du bananier avec une house de polyethyléne sur la temperature des fruits
dans les conditions de Neufchateau (Guadeloupe). Fruits 30(2):735-738.
4.
Soto, M. 2010. Banano: Tecnologias de producción, Tomo II. Costa Rica.

Also on this website
Musapedia pages on pesticide-reducing practices:
Bagging
Biological forecasting system for black leaf streak
Biological forecasting system for Sigatoka leaf spot
Cover crop
Crop rotation
Deleafing
Fallow
Fungicide-reducing application technologies

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Integrated nematode management system

Pheromone trapping
Weed management

Further reading
Factsheet on bunch covers for bananas produced by the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries in
Australia

This portal was initiated by a grant from the Ministère

français de l'agriculture, de l'agroalimentaire et de la
forêt to the World Banana Forum.White

Contributors to this page: Anne Vézina

.

Page last modified on Wednesday, 05 August 2020 18:07:41 +08 by Anne Vézina.

The original document is available at https://www.promusa.org/Bagging

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