Research Project: Reducing Postharvest Loss and Improving Fresh Produce Marketability and Nutritive Values through Technological Innovations and Process Optimization

Location: Food Quality Laboratory

Publications (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)

Leveraging observations of untrained panelists to screen for quality of fresh-cut romaine lettuce - (Peer Reviewed Journal)

In search of optimum fresh-cut raw material: Using computer vision systems as a sensory screening tool for browning resistant romaine lettuce accessions - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Bornhorst, E.R., Luo, Y., Park, E., Zhou, B., Turner, E.R., Teng, Z., Simko, I., Fonseca, J.M., Trouth, F.J. 2024. In search of optimum fresh-cut raw material: Using computer vision systems as a sensory screening tool for browning resistant romaine lettuce accessions. Horticulturae. 10(7). Article e10070731. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10070731.

Machine intelligence accelerated design of conductive MXene aerogels with programmable properties - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Shrestha, S., Barvenik, K.J., Chen, T., Yang, H., Kesavan, M.M., Little, J.M., Teng, Z., Luo, Y., Tubaldi, E., Chen, P. 2024. Machine intelligence accelerated design of conductive MXene aerogels with programmable properties. Nature Communications. 15. Article e4685. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-49011-8.

Flash heating process for efficient meat preservation - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Mao, Y., Ma, P., Li, T., Liu, S., Wang, X., Chen, G., Xie, H., Brozena, A.H., Zhou, B., Luo, Y., Cheng, H., Wang, Q., Briber, R.M., Hu, L. 2024. Flash heating process for efficient meat preservation. Nature Communications. 15. Article e3893. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-47967-1.

Effect of far-red light on biomass accumulation, plant morphology, and phytonutrient composition of ruby streaks mustard at microgreen, baby leaf, and flowering stages - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Teng, Z., Luo, Y., Sun, J., Pearlstein, D.J., Oehler, M., Fitzwater, J.D., Zhou, B., Hussan, M.A., Chang, C.Y., Chen, P., Wang, Q., Fonseca, J.M. 2024. Effect of far-red light on biomass accumulation, plant morphology, and phytonutrient composition of ruby streaks mustard at microgreen, baby leaf, and flowering stages. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 72(17):9587–9598. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.3c06834.

SQ-Swin: Siamese Quadratic Swin transformer for lettuce browning prediction - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Wang, D., Luo, Y., Zhang, B., Xu, Y., Yu, H. 2023. SQ-Swin: Siamese Quadratic Swin transformer for lettuce browning prediction. IEEE Access. 11:128724-128735. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2023.3332488.

Two MYB activators of anthocyanin biosynthesis exhibit specialized activity in petiole and fruit of diploid strawberry - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Luo, X., Plunkert, M., Teng, Z., Mackenzie, K., Guo, L., Luo, Y., Hytönen, T., Liu, Z. 2023. Two MYB activators of anthocyanin biosynthesis exhibit specialized activity in petiole and fruit of diploid strawberry. New Phytologist. 74(5):1517-1531. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erac507.

Microgreens for home, commercial, and space farming – a comprehensive update of the most recent developments - (Review Article)
Teng, Z., Luo, Y., Pearlstein, D.J., Wheeler, R., Johnson, C., Wang, Q., Fonseca, J.M. 2022. Microgreens for home, commercial, and space farming – a comprehensive update of the most recent developments. Annual Review of Food Science & Technology. 14:539-562. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-food-060721-024636.

Agarose hydrogel composite supports microgreen growth with continuous water supply under terrestrial and microgravitational conditions - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Teng, Z., Luo, Y., Pearlstein, D.J., Zhou, B., Johnson, C.M., Wang, Q., Fonseca, J.M. 2022. Agarose hydrogel composite supports microgreen growth with continuous water supply under terrestrial and microgravitational conditions. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 220:135-146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.08.046.

Effects of a novel combination of gallic acid, hydrogen peroxide and lactic acid on pathogen inactivation and shelf-life of baby spinach - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Zhou, B., Luo, Y., Nou, X., Mwangi, E., Poverenov, E., Demokritou, P., Fonseca, J.M. 2023. Effects of a novel combination of gallic acid, hydrogen peroxide and lactic acid on pathogen inactivation and shelf-life of baby spinach. Food Control. 143. Article 109284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2022.109284.

An integrated food freshness sensor array system augmented by metal-organic framework mixed-matrix membrane and deep learning - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ma, P., Xu, W., Teng, Z., Luo, Y., Gong, C., Wang, Q., Nou, X. 2022. An integrated food freshness sensor array system augmented by metal-organic framework mixed-matrix membrane and deep learning. ACS Sensors. 7:1847-1454. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssensors.2c00255?urlappend=%3Fref%3DPDF&jav=VoR&rel=cite-as.

Sequential application of peracetic acid and UV irradiation (PAAUV/PAA) for improved bacterial inactivation in fresh-cut produce wash water - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Zhang, T., Luo, Y., Zhou, B., Teng, Z., Huang, C., Nou, X. 2022. Sequential application of peracetic acid and UV irradiation (PAAUV/PAA) for improved bacterial inactivation in fresh-cut produce wash water. ACS Environmental Science & Technology Water. 2(7):1247-1253. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestwater.2c00087.

Determining effects of temperature abuse timing on shelf life of RTE baby spinach through microbial growth models and its correlation with sensory quality - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Zhou, B., Luo, Y., Huang, L., Fonseca, J.M., Yan, H., Huang, J. 2022. Determining effects of temperature abuse timing on shelf life of RTE baby spinach through microbial growth models and its correlation with sensory quality. Postharvest Biology and Technology. 133. Article 108639. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2021.108639.

Biopolymer-based sanitizers for fresh produce, traditional application vs dry engineered water nanostructures approach - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Cohen, Y., Mwangi, E., Tish, N., Xu, J., Vaze, N., Falik, E., Luo, Y., Demokritou, P., Rodov, V., Poverenov, E. 2022. Biopolymer-based sanitizers for fresh produce, traditional application vs dry engineered water nanostructures approach. Food Chemistry. 378:132056. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.132056.

Integrated portable shrimp-freshness prediction platform based on ice-templated metal-organic framework colorimetric combinatorics and deep convolutional neural networks - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ma, P., Zhang, Z., Xu, W., Teng, Z., Luo, Y., Gong, C., Wang, Q. 2021. Integrated portable shrimp-freshness prediction platform based on ice-templated metal-organic framework colorimetric combinatorics and deep convolutional neural networks. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering. 9(50):16926-16936. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c04704?urlappend=%3Fref%3DPDF&jav=VoR&rel=cite-as.

Enzyme- and relative humidity-responsive antimicrobial fibers as active food packaging materials - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Aytac, Z., Xu, J., Kumar, S., Eitzer, B., Xu, T., Vaze, N., Ng, K., White, J., Chan-Parkb, M., Luo, Y. 2021. Enzyme- and relative humidity-responsive antimicrobial fibers as active food packaging materials. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. 13(42):50298. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.1c12319.

Development of metal-organic framework stabilized high inner phase Pickering emulsions based on computer simulation for curcumin encapsulation - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ma, P., Zhang, J., Teng, Z., Zhang, Y., Bauchan, G.R., Luo, Y., Liu, D., Wang, Q. 2021. Development of metal-organic framework stabilized high inner phase Pickering emulsions based on computer simulation for curcumin encapsulation. Food Hydrocolloids. 6(40):2655626565. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.1c03932.

Charting the future of e-grocery: An evaluation of the use of digital imagery as a sensory analysis tool for fresh fruits - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Fonseca, J.M., Luo, Y., Park, E., Trouth, F.J. 2021. Charting the future of e-grocery: An evaluation of the use of digital imagery as a sensory analysis tool for fresh fruits. Horticulturae. 7(9):262. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7090262.

Polydopamine-coated chitosan hydrogel beads for synthesis and immobilization of silver nanoparticles to simultaneously enhance antimicrobial activity and adsorption kinetics - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Wang, T., Wusigale, Kuttappan, D., Amalaradjou, M., Luo, Y., Luo, Y. 2021. Polydopamine-coated chitosan hydrogel beads for synthesis and immobilization of silver nanoparticles to simultaneously enhance antimicrobial activity and adsorption kinetics. Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials. 4:696–706. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42114-021-00305-1.

Development of novel biopolymer-based dendritic nanocomplexes for encapsulation of phenolic bioactive compounds: a proof-of-concept study - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Xue, J., Luo, Y., Balasubramanian, R., Upadhyay, A., Li, Z., Luo, Y. 2021. Development of novel biopolymer-based dendritic nanocomplexes for encapsulation of phenolic bioactive compounds: a proof-of-concept study. Food Hydrocolloids. 120:106987. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2021.106987.

Determining bacterial load and water quality of tomato flume tanks in Florida packinghouses - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Bertoldi, B., Bardsley, C.A., Baker, A.C., Pabst, C.R., Gutierrez, A., De, J., Luo, Y., Schneider, K.R. 2021. Determining bacterial load and water quality of tomato flume tanks in Florida packinghouses. Journal of Food Protection. 84(10):1784–1792. https://doi.org/10.4315/JFP-21-100.

Numerical simulation and experimental validation of bacterial detachment using a spherical produce model in an industrial-scale flume washer - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Tan, J., Zhou, B., Luo, Y., Karwe, M. 2021. Numerical simulation and experimental validation of bacterial detachment using a spherical produce model in an industrial-scale flume washer. Food Control. 130:108300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2021.108300.