Development of chilling injury in potted 'Genovese' sweet basil

D.M. Vitor, F.F. de Araujo, F.L. Finger
Three-month-old potted sweet basil plants were stored at 5, 10 and 25°C under dark for five days, simulating Brazilian's shipping conditions. Storage at 5°C induced severe chilling symptoms after four days, characterized by dark spots and wilting of leaves. The plants kept at room temperature were adequate for commercialization and consumption after four days in the dark. Nevertheless, the best quality was present in plants stored at 10°C. Polifenol oxidase activity was associated with the development of leaf darkening at 5°C storage. Activity of catalase increased with the appearance of chilling symptoms in plants stored at 5°C. However, there was no correlation between peroxidase activity and development of chilling symptoms during cold storage. In plants stored at 5°C, there was a 20% increase on leaf electrolyte leakage, which was coincident with the development of severe chilling symptoms at the third day of storage. Regardless the treatment, total chlorophyll content was kept stable in no injured leaves. For long distance shipping, the temperature of 10°C is recommended for potted sweet basil plants.
Vitor, D.M., de Araujo, F.F. and Finger, F.L. (2018). Development of chilling injury in potted 'Genovese' sweet basil. Acta Hortic. 1194, 451-456
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1194.65
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1194.65
polifenol oxidase, catalase, peroxidase, Ocimum basilicum L
English

Acta Horticulturae