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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wenatchee, Washington » Physiology and Pathology of Tree Fruits Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #266782
Title: A Diagnostic Toolbox for Integrated Management of Apple Postharvest Necrotic Disorders

Author
item Rudell, David
item WATKINS, CHRIS - Cornell University
item Mattheis, James
item Giovannoni, James
item HERTOG, MAARTEN - Katholieke University
item NICOLAI, BART - Katholieke University
item RICKARD, BRADLEY - Cornell University
item JOHNSTON, JASON - Plant And Food Research
item HANRAHAN, INES - Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission
item REED, NATE - Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission
item Zhu, Yanmin

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/28/2011
Publication Date: 9/29/2011
Citation: Rudell Jr, D.R., Watkins, C., Mattheis, J.P., Giovannoni, J.J., Hertog, M., Nicolai, B., Rickard, B., Johnston, J., Hanrahan, I., Reed, N., Zhu, Y. 2011. A Diagnostic Toolbox for Integrated Management of Apple Postharvest Necrotic Disorders. Meeting Abstract. N/A.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Apple postharvest physiological disorders, characterized by peel or flesh necrosis, result in significant yearly financial losses. Unfortunately, current chemical and cultural control systems are lacking or provide little assurance that apples will not develop disorders in storage or elsewhere in the supply chain. An alternative control strategy, based on biomarker-based risk assessment and diagnostics, could provide storage managers with effective tools that predict, diagnose, and distinguish these disorders to efficiently target treatments, guide storage management and marketing decisions, and improve quality assurance throughout the supply chain. Biomarker-based tools will be developed for disorders that impact nationwide apple fruit sales including superficial scald, carbon dioxide induced injury, diffuse browning of the flesh, and soft-scald/ soggy breakdown. Tools will be developed by contrasting metabolic responses related to different postharvest disorders and/or provoked by postharvest regimes that alter disorder incidence and severity. Candidate biomarkers and metabolic fingerprints will be discovered using untargeted metabolic and gene expression profiling approaches. The economic feasibility of biomarker-based tools will be evaluated according to the different roles of stakeholders within the apple supply chain and different apple production regions. Transfer of biomarker-based diagnostic concepts and tools for industrial use will be actively pursued so new technology can be employed in the field.