Project Number: 5350-43000-004-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Jul 21, 2004
End Date: Jul 20, 2009

Objective:
The focus of the objectives in this proposal is to improve quality and reduce postharvest loss of deciduous tree fruit (apples, pears and cherries) due to physiological dysfunction. Investigations will be to determine how pre- and postharvest factors influence the development of physiological disorders during and after storage and to determine effects of postharvest treatments on poststorage fruit quality. Investigations will lead to an increased understanding of biochemical causes of specific disorders that curative technologies can be developed and implemented and development of appropriate storage regimes specific to particular cultivars and postharvest treatments, to maximize fruit quality at retail.

Approach:
Identify influence of preharvest factors on biochemical and physiological changes of fruit epidermis, which influence onset of lenticel breakdown in storage by conducting initial experiments to examine changes in wax quality with stress and C2H4 regulators. Refine analytical methods for wax analysis. Identify biochemical and physiological changes during fruit maturation and storage that influence onset of internal browning by conducting first year experiments using whole fruit exposed to CO2 enriched atmospheres and identify oxidizing species accumulating in DPA. Determine proper stage of harvest maturity and optimum storage conditions for new cultivars to ensure highest quality of fruit after storage by conducting first year experiments on multiple new cultivars of apples and evaluate the response of new cultivars to various pre- and postharvest conditions. Evaluate methyl bromide alternative quarantine treatments for effects on fruit quality and storage disorders by completing experiments on the response of tree fruits to microwave energy used as a quarantine treatment to meet export requirements. Formerly 5350-43000-003-00D (6/04).

Project Team

Curry, Eric Drake, Stephen Mattheis, James

Related National Programs

Quality and Utilization of Agricultural Products (306)

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