Effects of atmosphere composition on postharvest quality of fresh basil leaves (Ocimum basilicum L.)

Fresh basil leaves (cv. 'Gigante napoletano') were stored in air, 2% O-2 in nitrogen, and 2% O-2 + 3% CO2 in nitrogen for 20 days at 12 degrees C. Visual quality attributes resulted unchanged for up to 13 days, with only minimal differences between treatments. After 20 days of storage leaves kept in air showed a significant increase in brown areas compared to other treatments. Color of the lamina showed no significant change in terms of hue and chromaticity for all the duration of the experiment. Leaf texture after 13 days of storage resulted slightly, although significantly, lower for the samples held in 2% O-2 + 3% CO2 while it drastically decreased of 60% of initial value at the end of the experiment for samples held in air. The composition of the volatile fraction, obtained by GC-MS, showed no differences except for samples in air after 20 days of storage, in agreement with other results obtained during this trial. Reducing oxygen in the atmosphere composition contributed to maintain better quality of basil leaves for 20 days of storage compared to storage in air. Adding 3% CO2 did not produce significant benefits, although at this concentration no CO2 injury was observed.