Management of postharvest losses and strategies for limiting development of physiological disorders in fruits and vegetables

Summary

Research in my laboratory investigates mechanisms that regulate ripening and postharvest storage in blueberries. Understanding factors that regulate ripening and storage in blueberries will help to develop strategies to aid in (i) uniform ripening, (ii) improved postharvest management and (iii) extending blueberry shelf-life. In vegetable crops, our research is geared towards using molecular and physiological tools to understand incidence of blossom end rot in bell peppers. The eventual goal of this project is to develop management strategies that can be used by growers to mitigate this disorder.

Situation

Blueberry is the leading fruit crop in Georgia with a farm gate value of approximately $335 million in 2014 with increased production due to greater consumer awareness of its health promoting compounds. However, blueberry is an extremely perishable commodity and does not store well for more than three weeks. During storage, the berries soften, lose flavor and become susceptible to pathogens. With its enhanced health benefits it is important to understand factors that can improve shelf-life of blueberries while maintaining its fruit quality attributes. Bell peppers account for 14% of the vegetable production in Georgia with a farm gate value of approximately $121 million in 2014. Blossom end rot, a physiological disorder in bell pepper, can cause significant economic losses since fruits that develop blossom end rot cannot be marketed. Another area of my research is to understand the development of blossom end rot.

Response

My research group is focused on determining genes and hormone pathways that regulate ripening and postharvest storage in blueberries. We are also investigating the use of various growth regulators that can aid in more uniform ripening. For postharvest storage, we have identified blueberry varieties that differ in their storage attributes. Currently, we are identifying various acids and sugars that may be associated with better fruit quality during storage. We plan to extend this study to many other commonly used varieties to see how they compare during storage. This project would allow for further identification of possible differences within and among older and newer varieties, as well as looking at advanced blueberry breeding selections that are potential new cultivars or parents in breeding programs. In bell peppers, our research is focused on understanding the physiology of blossom end rot development. Currently we are evaluating varieties for their fruit growth rate characteristics to determine if differences in growth rate can cause the onset development of this disorder. We are also evaluating commercial bell pepper varieties for resistance to blossom end rot and collaborating with other researchers to develop effective irrigation and other management practices to reduce incidence of this disorder.

Impact

Understanding the mechanisms that regulate ripening and postharvest issues in blueberries will help to develop strategies for more uniform ripening and extended shelf-life storage. In addition, variety specific knowledge of fruit quality will help growers and packers better match varieties and their intended markets. A better understanding of the physiological aspects of blossom end rot in peppers will inform strategies aimed at mitigating the incidence of this disorder in the field and provide information on resistant varieties available to growers.

State Issue

Agricultural Profitability and Sustainability

Details

• Year: 2016
• Geographic Scope: Multi-State/Regional
• County: Clarke
• Program Areas:
  • Agriculture & Natural Resources