HortScience · 1994 · 60 citations · 3 references
AgriculturePlant BiologyPlant SciencesPlant PhysiologyPostharvest Loss ReductionPostharvest PhysiologyChilling InjuryLow-temperature PreservationPostharvest PreservationPostharvest Stress PhysiologyShelf-life AnalysisShelf-life ImprovementChilling Injury EvaluationChilling Injury SeverityChilling Injury SymptomsPostharvest LifeShelf LifeShelf Life DeteriorationShelf Life QualityShelf-life Assessment
Shelf life (defined by visual quality) of freshly harvested greenhouse-grown sweet basil was maintained for an average of ≈ 12 days at 15C. Chilling injury symptoms were severe at storage temperatures of 5C and below. Shelf life was found to be only 1 and 3 days at 0 and 5C, respectively. Moderate chilling injury was noted at 7.5 and 10C. Harvesting sweet basil later in the day (i.e., 1800 or 2200 hr ) increased shelf life by almost 100% when harvested shoots were held at 10, 15, and 20C, compared to harvesting at 0200 or 0600 hr . However, the time of day of harvest did not alter the development of visual chilling injury symptoms or improve shelf life at 0 or 5C.
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