The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of storage temperatures on deterioration of banana and plantain. It was carried out in the laboratory at the Department of Biological sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria during the rainy and dry seasons. The various temperatures used for the storage were; 0oC 4oC, 27.5oC and 30.33oC for the rainy season, and for the dry season the temperatures were; 0oC, 4oC, 33.83oC and 35.28oC. Both banana and plantain showed symptoms of chilling injury at the lower temperatures of 0oC and 4oC. Similarly analysis of moisture content showed highest value at the lower temperatures (0oC and 4oC). However, the values of most of the biochemical components analysed were greater at higher temperatures (30.33oC and 35.28oC) in both the rainy and dry seasons. The study suggests that the temperatures, 30.33oC in the rainy season and 35.83oC in the dry season could therefore, be used to store banana and plantain better than the lower temperatures.

Keywords; Banana, plantain, Temperature, storage, chilling injury, Biochemical components.