In each experiment, visual damage due to CI was scored by 10
trained panellists on each basil leaf put on a tray, immediately after
cutting (time 0) and at each storage period, at 4 or 12 C. Panellists
were trained in previous trials, during which they were taught to
evaluate the CI of leaves of different basil cultivars stored for
10 days at 4 C using the scoring scale reported in Fig. S1. For the
evaluation of CI score, the same subjective rating scale (from 1 to
5), employed for the training phase, was used (Fig. S1). In detail:
(1) no damage, leaves without any symptoms of visual damage;
(2) 5–15% of dark spots on the leaf surface; (3) 15–30% of dark
spots on the total leaf surface; (4) 30–50% of dark spots on the total
leaf surface; (5) more than 50% of leaf area black (Wongsheree
et al., 2009). At each storage day, samples stored at 4 and 12 C
were analysed in duplicate; coded (three digits) samples were presented
to the judges individually, in order to enable them to make
independent evaluations. Average scores of the leaves belonging to
each tray provided the measure for the tray (each replicate). Intermediate
values were assigned, when appropriate.