Results and Discussion
The average shelf life of packaged sweet
basil was longest at 15C (Table 1), where
> 95% of the packages lasted 7 days or more
(Fig. 1). Eight packaged cuttings lasted longer
than 13 days, with one cutting lasting 29 days
(Fig. 1). The shelf life was eventually limited
by the development of surface molds and/or
chlorosis of the older tissue. Visual shelf life
ranged from 2 to 14 days at 20C, with an
average of >1 week (Table 1, Fig. 1). At 20C,
50% of the packages remained visually acceptable
for 7 to 9 days. The average shelf life
was nearly 1 week (Table 1) at 25C, although
60% of the packages were visually acceptable
for 6 days or less.
Shelf life was reduced at temperatures £ 10C
compared to 15C (Table 1). Chilling injury