Samples pre-stored at 0 ◦C for 7 days before cutting showed a significant decrease of appearance score of outer bracts (Fig. 4), compared to samples prestored at 5 ◦C; this was due to the occurrence of brown spots on artichokes stored at 0 ◦C which was not observed for samples pre-stored at higher temperatures. The differences observed upon cutting were not appreciable at time 7 + 3 when quarters from artichokes stored at higher temperatures showed a decrease of the appearance score to values similar to those obtained by samples from artichokes stored at 0 ◦C, which remained almost constant after cutting. On cut surfaces (Fig. 4),