ISHS Acta Horticulturae 877: VI International Postharvest Symposium
EFFECTS OF GROWING CONDITIONS ON THE POSTHARVEST QUALITY OF HERBS |
| Authors: | N. Islam, S. Torre, A.B. Wold, H.R. Gislerød |
| Keywords: | temperature, air humidity, light period, Ocimum basilicum L., Melissa officinalis L., water loss, postharvest life |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2010.877.18 |
| Abstract:
Temperature, relative air humidity (RH) and light period are the essential climatic factors for growth and postharvest quality of horticultural crops. Relatively little is known about the effects of pre-harvest climatic condition on the postharvest quality of herbs. Three experiments were conducted in growth chambers and greenhouse compartments with different temperature regimes, RH and light periods on basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) and lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.). The rates of water loss from the detached leaves were higher in the plants grown at 95% RH compared to 65 and 80% RH, and higher in 24h light period compared to 16 and 20h. Increased shoot elongation with high RH caused bending of the shoots, and thus reduced the plant quality. Postharvest life was negatively correlated (P≤ 0.0001) to the rate of water loss during postharvest period. High RH (95%) and continuous light (24h) during growth increased the amount of water loss during postharvest, and thus reduced postharvest life. High variation in the day/night (32/8°C) temperature (+24 DIF) had pronounced effect on the rate of water loss and postharvest life compared to constant temperature, but the effect varied with the species. In basil, the rate of water loss increased and postharvest life was reduced with +24 DIF, while the opposite result was in lemon balm. These suggest that high RH and continuous light needs to be avoided for quality herb production, even though that gave good dry matter production. However, when water is not a limiting factor during postharvest, herbs can be grown under continuous light as long as it gives quicker shoot elongation, higher shoot dry weight, and reduces growing period. | |
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