Changes in visual quality, physiological and biochemical parameters assessed during the postharvest storage at chilling or non-chilling temperatures of three sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) cultivars

•Darkened spots appeared on chilling injured basil leaves.•Respiratory metabolism was not promoted by chilling stress temperature.•Storage at 12 °C preserved the polyphenols profile.•Ethylene biosynthesis might be an indicator of tissue sensitivity to chilling temperature.•Depletion in phenolic compounds was measured at chilling temperature.

Leaves of three different sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) cultivars (Italico a foglia larga, Cammeo, and Italiano classico) packed in macro-perforated polyethylene bags were stored at chilling (4 °C) or non-chilling temperature (12 °C) for 9 days. During storage, visual quality, physiological (respiration rate, ethylene production, ammonium content) and chemical (antioxidant activity, total polyphenols and polyphenol profile) parameters were measured. Detached leaves stored at chilling temperature showed visual symptoms related to chilling injury, while ethylene production and ammonium content resulted associated to cultivar sensibility to damage at low temperature. Storage at 4 °C caused a depletion in polyphenols content and antioxidant capability, which was preserved at 12 °C. Regarding the polyphenols profile, stressful storage conditions did not enhance the phenolic metabolism. However, leaves stored at 12 °C did not loss a significant amount of metabolites respect to fresh leaves, suggesting the possibility to extend the storability after the expiration date, for a possible recovery of bioactive compounds.