Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

NE-2336 Consolidated State Report Summary

Improving Quality and Reducing Losses in Specialty Fruit and Vegetable Crops through Storage Technologies

University of Florida (FL)

Jeff Brecht, Steve Sargent, Tie Liu, and collaborators

Objective 1. Adapt or develop harvest, handling, and storage technologies to improve fruit quality, increase consumption, and reduce food waste.

Modified-atmosphere packaging with ethylene scrubbing supported up to four weeks of marine transport at 7 °C for tree-ripe mangoes exported from South America to the United States. Melatonin and putrescine reduced wound-induced oxidative discoloration in lettuce. Storage at 8 °C reduced internal chilling injury in ‘Oro Negro’ and ‘Harvest’ avocados compared with 6 °C. Physiological and transcriptomic analyses of finger lime identified senescence-associated genes and pathways linked to rapid deterioration.

Objective 2. Expand and translate fundamental plant biology to develop new storage technologies and plant materials.

Mango black flesh disorder (corte negro) was identified as chilling injury associated with early harvest and ripening; 1-MCP inhibited its development. Researchers developed an objective framework for five lettuce wound-discoloration phenotypes, characterized chilling-stress responses in avocado, and identified transcriptomic and metabolomic markers associated with storage differences between ‘Green Queen’ and ‘Imperial Star’ artichokes.

Objective 3. Advance knowledge of host–pathogen–microbe interactions to maintain high-quality produce and reduce waste.

Thyme and cinnamon essential oils controlled peach brown rot caused by Monilinia fructicola without compromising sensory quality. Work is beginning on avocado microcracking and its relationship to decay.

Short-term outcomes: Results provide mango exporters, avocado handlers, and fresh-produce growers with transport, storage-temperature, discoloration-control, and decay-management options.

University of Georgia (GA)

Angelos Deltsidis, Nobuko Sugimoto, Zilfina Rubio Ames, Orestis Giannopoulos, Ramsey Corn, Taiwo Owolanke, Chinonso Ayogu, Amit Godara, Vinicius Fernandes Araujo, Brayan Alvarado, and collaborators

Objective 1. Enhance and/or adapt current handling, storage, and postharvest technologies to ensure high-quality products and increase consumer acceptability.

For ‘Hammerhead’ green bell pepper, storage at 7.2 °C maintained the best quality for up to four weeks by minimizing chilling injury and shriveling while retaining firmness. For Satsuma ‘Owari’, storage at 5–7.2 °C maintained marketable quality for 4–6 weeks and allowed partially green, early-harvest fruit to develop acceptable peel color.

Research addressed peach chilling injury, ozone nanobubble and gaseous-ozone treatments, and non-destructive maturity assessment. Ozone nanobubbles showed potential, whereas elevated gaseous ozone adversely affected quality. Blueberry studies showed that delayed harvest reduced storability and firmness, while shorter picking intervals improved postharvest performance. Additional work addressed photoselective devices, preharvest 1-MCP, machine-harvest quality, blackberry controlled-atmosphere storage and red drupelet reversion, satsuma degreening, onion mechanical-harvest damage, and quality of sweetpotatoes, watermelons, pecans, strawberries, cucumbers, and muscadines.

Objective 3. Advance knowledge of host–pathogen–microbe interactions to maintain high-quality produce and reduce waste.

Characterized Phytophthora cinnamomi isolates from Georgia blueberries to assess pathogenicity and relationships among pathogen pressure, soil disinfestation, and postharvest storability.

Short-term outcomes: Generated storage recommendations for bell peppers and satsumas and delivered research-based handling guidance, Extension resources, and training for multiple Georgia specialty crops.

University of Idaho (ID)

Gustavo Henrique de Almeida Teixeira and collaborators

Objective 2. Expand and translate fundamental plant biology to develop new storage technologies and plant materials that will enhance human nutrition and energy-efficient postharvest systems.

Evaluated storage-related enzymatic browning in russet potato cultivars. Browning increased during storage and was greatest in Russet Burbank and Ranger Russet and lowest in Clearwater Russet; susceptibility was associated with polyphenol oxidase activity, phenolics, amino-acid precursors, and declining ascorbic acid. Nitric oxide and 1-MCP reduced blackspot browning and maintained greater tuber lightness after mechanical injury. Under simulated bulk storage, pile pressure increased external lesions but did not cause internal cutting-black discoloration under the tested conditions; nitric oxide and diphenylamine reduced PPO and POD activity.

Five Extension bulletins and nine grower articles were published, and bilingual outreach was delivered through industry conferences, field days, and webinars. The program also trained visiting scientists and graduate students.

Short-term outcomes: Identified cultivar and storage-duration differences in bruise susceptibility and developed promising treatment approaches to reduce discoloration and fresh-potato losse

Kansas State University (KS)

Eleni D. Pliakoni, Tricia Jenkins, Cary L. Rivard, and collaborators

Objective 1. Adapt or develop harvest, handling, and storage technologies to improve fruit and vegetable quality, increase consumption, and reduce food waste.

High-intensity 222-nm Far-UVC treatment during sweetpotato curing reduced aerobic bacterial populations without reducing external quality or increasing sprouting, although treated roots had greater weight loss after 16 weeks. In hydroponic production, slow-sand filtration and UV-C, with or without biochar, achieved at least a 5-log reduction of Escherichia coli in reused nutrient solution. Continued reuse depleted several micronutrients and reduced lettuce biomass and quality, demonstrating the need for cycle-specific nutrient monitoring and supplementation.

Low-dose UV-C treatment of nutrient solution increased romaine-lettuce leaf length and shoot fresh weight and maintained or improved visual quality and vitamin C without negatively affecting color, texture, or water loss during storage. Elevated nutrient-solution electrical conductivity improved growth and potassium concentration of leafy greens, particularly kale and Malabar spinach, but crop-specific management was needed because standard conductivity was more appropriate for basil and lettuce.

June-bearing strawberry studies showed that late-August through late-September planting produced similar yield and shelf life for ‘Ruby June’, although earlier planting improved antioxidant capacity and phenolics. ‘Chandler’, ‘Camarosa’, and ‘Ruby June’ were suitable Kansas cultivars, whereas ‘X08’ showed poor winter survival and low yield. For cherry tomatoes, paper containers provided shelf life comparable to conventional plastic clamshells under ambient conditions and offer a compostable option for local and short supply chains.

A postharvest short course is being developed for Kansas small- and medium-acreage specialty-crop growers using a needs assessment, farm visits, hands-on training, and follow-up evaluation.

Short-term outcomes: Produced practical Far-UVC, hydroponic water-reuse, nutrient-management, strawberry-cultivar, and compostable-packaging information to improve food safety, resource efficiency, quality retention, and training access for Kansas specialty-crop growers.

University of Maryland (MD)

Macarena Farcuh and collaborators

Objective 1. Enhance and/or adapt current handling, storage, and postharvest technologies to ensure high-quality products and increase consumer acceptability.

Preharvest AVG most strongly reduced ethylene production and delayed chlorophyll loss in ‘Ambrosia’ apples but delayed commercially required red blush. Preharvest 1-MCP provided intermediate maturity delay without sacrificing blush development. Postharvest UVA and UVB treatments increased ‘Honeycrisp’ red color and blush area in a dose-dependent manner, with stronger effects at 10 °C than at 5 °C and no effect on ethylene production.

Objective 2. Expand and translate fundamental plant biology to develop new storage technologies and plant materials.

In ‘Red Haven’ peaches, 5 °C storage followed by shelf life increased chilling injury and altered sugar metabolism relative to 0 °C. Storage at 0 °C better preserved sucrose homeostasis and reduced chilling-injury risk. Pillar European plum trees with reduced TAC1expression had twofold greater canopy light interception and more uniform, redder skin color, indicating potential to reduce pruning needs while improving marketability.

Short-term outcomes: Provides Mid-Atlantic growers with guidance on apple maturity management, postharvest UV coloration, peach storage temperature, and plum canopy architecture.

Michigan State University (MI)

Randolph M. Beaudry and collaborators

Objective 1. Adapt or develop harvest, handling, and storage technologies to improve fruit quality, increase consumption, and reduce food waste.

Long-term low-oxygen storage and extended storage duration suppressed aroma production and post-storage aroma recovery in EverCrisp, Fuji, and Gala apples. Postharvest diphenylamine at 250 ppm completely suppressed cortex browning and largely controlled core browning in EverCrisp apples stored for six months at 3 °C under controlled atmosphere. Preliminary work showed Honeycrisp surface pits were not necessarily associated with lenticel breakdown. X-ray fluorescence provided quantitative calcium measures in apple, blueberry, cherry, and kiwifruit leaves and in apple skin, but not apple cortex.

Objective 2. Improve understanding of fruit-quality biology to advance storage technology and new plant materials.

Identified alternatively spliced regulatory proteins in branched-chain amino-acid and ester formation in banana. The variants lack normal feedback inhibition and may contribute to synthesis of characteristic banana aroma precursors.

Short-term outcomes: Provides storage operators with information to balance low-oxygen storage and aroma retention, manage EverCrisp browning, and improve rapid mineral analysis.

North Carolina State University (NC)

Penelope Perkins-Veazie and collaborators

Objective 1. Enhance and/or adapt current handling, storage, and postharvest technologies to ensure high-quality products and increase consumer acceptability.

A consumer-preference study of nine canary melon cultivars assessed preferences for rind and flesh color and sweetness. Ongoing work is defining visual ripeness indicators and evaluating handheld NIR for soluble-solids-based harvest guidance. Preferred cultivars will be used to establish storage recommendations and test retail performance.

Objective 2. Expand and translate fundamental plant biology to develop new storage technologies and plant materials.

Applied NIR technology to screen purple-carrot germplasm for anthocyanins of potential value as natural food colorants. Identified anthocyanin patterns in Vitis × Muscadinia hybrids to support prediction of grape color type and pigment composition.

Short-term outcomes: Supports eastern U.S. canary-melon market development and rapid selection of pigment-rich carrot and grape germplasm.

Cornell University (NY)

Yosef Al Shoffe, Robin Dando, Chris B. Watkins, and collaborators

Objective 1. Enhance and/or adapt current handling, storage, and postharvest technologies to ensure high-quality products and increase consumer acceptability.

For ‘Gala’ apples, DCA-related oxygen concentrations of 0.2–0.5 kPa maintained firmness and acidity and reduced internal browning compared with 0.8–1.1 kPa; preharvest 1-MCP further reduced browning. A multistate Honeycrisp-conditioning study indicated that up to 10 days of conditioning may be beneficial where bitter-pit risk is low.

DCA at 0.5 °C optimized long-term storage of ‘Ambrosia’. DCA at 3 °C was recommended for long-term ‘WildTwist’ storage, while ‘Snapdragon’ benefited from DCA at 5.5 °C combined with preharvest 1-MCP. Watercore at harvest was identified as a major predisposing factor for internal browning in EverCrisp.

Additional research linked higher Honeycrisp acidity with consumer liking; examined rootstock, regional, and maturity effects on apple disorders; evaluated curing to reduce sweetpotato chilling injury; assessed preharvest regulators in blueberries; profiled pawpaw metabolites; and demonstrated that ethylene improved long-term storage of pungent dry-bulb onions.

Objective 2. Expand and translate fundamental plant biology to develop new storage technologies and plant materials.

Preharvest 1-MCP and AVG altered ‘RubyFrost’ maturity and watercore dissipation and may reduce risks associated with high watercore incidence.

Objective 3. Advance knowledge of host–pathogen–microbe interactions to maintain high-quality produce and reduce waste.

Apple genotype affected postharvest microbiome composition in reduced-sorbitol ‘Greensleeves’ lines. Packing-line processes reshaped bacterial communities, with waxing causing stronger shifts than chlorine sanitation.

Short-term outcomes: Developed cultivar-specific apple storage recommendations and advanced quality-management options for apple, onion, sweetpotato, blueberry, and pawpaw industries.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Nova Scotia (NS)

Jun Song and collaborators

Objective 1. Enhance and/or adapt current handling, storage, and postharvest technologies to ensure high-quality products and increase consumer acceptability.

Quantified volatile changes in ‘Honeycrisp’ apples during cold storage in relation to soft scald and delayed cooling. Approximately 100 volatile compounds were detected; several changed with disorder development after 1.5 and 3 months. Delayed cooling increased many volatile compounds, indicating possible benefits for both soft-scald management and flavor retention.

Objective 2. Expand and translate fundamental plant biology to develop new storage technologies and plant materials.

Untargeted metabolomics and genome-wide association analyses identified genetic regions and candidate genes associated with apple polyphenols, including major loci on chromosomes 1, 5, and 16 linked to catechin, epicatechin, quercitrin, and dihydrochalcone metabolism.

Short-term outcomes: Identified potential volatile biomarkers for soft scald and genetic targets for breeding apples with improved nutrition, disease resistance, and marketability.

Washington State University (WA)

Carolina Torres, Rene Mogollon, and collaborators

Objective 1. Enhance and/or adapt current handling, storage, and postharvest technologies to ensure high-quality products and increase consumer acceptability.

Dynamic controlled atmosphere storage maintained firmness and acidity and slowed ethylene production and respiration in Honeycrisp and Gala apples compared with conventional CA or air storage. In Gala, CA and DCA reduced internal browning in the 2025 season, although DCA increased CO₂ injury in Honeycrisp in some seasons.

For WA-38, skin greasiness increased in cooler seasons, in air storage relative to CA, and during shelf life. A chlorophyll/carotenoid index sorted d’Anjou pears by sun exposure and canopy position; more exposed fruit were generally more mature and differed in superficial scald and sunscald development. AVG and 1-MCP retained greener pear skin, and 1-MCP retained firmness through eight months of cold storage; gaseous ethylene synchronized ripening afterward. Sweet-cherry studies identified tissue differences in cell-wall composition and anatomy, although patterns varied among genotypes.

Short-term outcomes: Supports cultivar-specific DCA and CA protocols, non-destructive pear sorting, and post-storage ripening strategies to improve packouts, consistency, and grower returns.

Florida — University of Florida

• Brecht, J. K., E. M. Yahia, and F. Shahzad. 2026. Postharvest Physiology. In: R. Litz, V. Galan Sauco, and I. Bally (eds.). The Mango: Botany, Production and Uses, 3rd ed., Chapter 21, pp. 495–523. CABI, Wallingford, U.K. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781800622647.0021.

• Donis-Gonzalez, I., J. F. Thompson, P. Brecht, J. K. Brecht, and C. Bishop. 2025. Transportation and Destination Handling. In: A. Kader, J. F. Thompson, and M. Saltveit (eds.). Postharvest Technology of Horticultural Crops, 4th ed., Vol. 6. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, Davis, CA.

• Berry, A. D., S. A. Sargent, M. Santana, J. G. Williamson, and S. L. Stahl. 2026. Mechanical Harvest of Southern Highbush Blueberries: Influence of Harvest Interval, Delay to Harvest Impact, and Pulp Temperature at Impact on Postharvest Quality. Horticulturae 12(3):336. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12030336.

• Chang, Y., P. F. Harmon, M. Ritenour, T. Liu, C. A. Sims, A. Sarkhosh, and J. K. Brecht. 2026. Comparison of Thyme Oil Vapor and Thyme Guard® Immersion on Peach Postharvest Brown Rot Control. HortTechnology 36:56–65. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05783-25.

• Chang, Y., S. S. Riley, X. Liu, M. Ritenour, T. Liu, A. Sarkhosh, J. K. Brecht, and C. A. Sims. 2026. The Use of Chitosan- and Coconut Oil-based Edible Coatings Enriched with Cinnamon Essential Oil for Extending Fresh Peach Quality. Journal of Food Science 91(6):e71166. https://doi.org/10.1111/1750-3841.71166.

• Deltsidis, A., T. Liu, and K. Albornoz. 2026. Editorial: Postharvest Ripening, Senescence, and Technology, Volume II. Frontiers in Genetics 17:1763492. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2026.1763492.

• Ghimire, U., E. Pliakoni, J. K. Brecht, and T. Liu. 2026. SAUR21-like Genes in Broccoli and Arabidopsis: Comparative Expression and Functional Characterization. Annals of Botany. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcag182.

• Habibi, F. U. Khalil, S. A. Sargent, and A. Sarkhosh. 2026. Storability and Quality Attributes of Purple Passion Fruit Applying Packaging Alone or Combined with Fungicide and Wax Under Simulated Ambient Conditions. Applied Food Research 6:101775. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.afres.2026.101775.

• Kandpal, L. M., E. Garcia, B. Costine, C. Hwang, A. Dixit, L. Spencer, T. Liu, A. O’Rourke, I. Baek, and M. Kim. 2026. Hyperspectral Imaging Reveals Early Drought Stress and Associated Molecular Responses in Lettuce for Space Agriculture. Plant Phenomics 8(3):100223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphe.2026.100223.

Georgia — University of Georgia

• Barbosa Júnior, M. R., R. G. dos Santos, L. de Azevedo Sales, R. B. S. Rônega Boa Sorte Vargas, A. Deltsidis, and L. P. de Oliveira. 2025. Image-based and ML-driven Analysis for Assessing Blueberry Fruit Quality. Heliyon 11(3):e42288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e42288.

• Engelgau, P., S. K. Wendakoon, N. Sugimoto, and R. M. Beaudry. 2025. Fruits Produce Branched-Chain Esters Primarily from Newly Synthesized Precursors. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 73:4196–4207.

• Giannopoulos, O., R. N. Corn, D. J. Chavez, F. E. Loayza-Dávila, and A. Deltsidis. 2025. Effects of Ozone Nanobubble Treatments on Postharvest Quality of Fresh Peaches. HortTechnology 35(1):90–100. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05557-24.

• Giannopoulos, O., R. Corn, C. Esmel McAvoy, J. Zuluaga Acosta, D. Chavez, and A. Deltsidis. 2025. Elevated Gaseous Ozone Concentrations: Adverse Effects on Postharvest Peach Quality. CyTA – Journal of Food 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/19476337.2025.2502532.

• Godara, A., A. Deltsidis, and Z. R. Ames. 2025. Photoselective Devices Increased Productivity of Southern Highbush Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum Interspecific Hybrids). HortScience 60(4):570–577. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI18379-24.

• Godara, A., Z. Rubio Ames, and A. Deltsidis. 2025. Impact of Shorter Picking Intervals on the Storability and Postharvest Quality of Rabbiteye Blueberries cv. ‘Brightwell’. Frontiers in Plant Science 16:1683940. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2025.1683940.

• Godara, A., Z. Rubio-Ames, and A. Deltsidis. 2025. Delayed Harvest Reduced Postharvest Quality and Storability of Southern Highbush cv. ‘Meadowlark’ and Rabbiteye Blueberry cv. ‘Brightwell’. HortScience 60(2):182–190. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI18301-24.

• Kumari, M., A. Deltsidis, X. Luo, C. McAvoy, and T. McAvoy. 2025. Assessment of Triploid Watermelon Cultivars Grown in Georgia for Yield and Quality Parameters. HortTechnology 35(1):81–89. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05561-24.

• Rehman, M., N. Qureshi, M. Nadeem, A. Deltsidis, M. F. Seleiman, and M. A. Shahid. 2025. Cold Storage Performance and Postharvest Quality Evaluation of Four Blackberry Cultivars Commercially Grown in North Florida. HortScience 60(12):2270–2282. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI18969-25.

• Horzum, Ö., N. Sugimoto, P. Engelgau, and R. M. Beaudry. 2026. Catalytic Degradation of 1-Methylcyclopropene by Metals and Copper Compounds in Humid and Dry Conditions. Postharvest Biology and Technology 240:114470. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114470.

• Deltsidis, A., J. Dawson, E. D. Smith, R. Corn, and C. E. E. McAvoy. 2025. Productivity and Postharvest Quality of Strawberry Cultivars Grown in Southeast Georgia. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Circular 1327.

• Owolanke, T., J. Price, A. Bateman, O. Giannopoulos, R. Corn, and A. Deltsidis. 2025. Ethylene Degreening Potential to Enhance Peel Coloration of Georgia-Grown Satsuma Fruit. University of Georgia Extension Circular. Under review.

• Giannopoulos, O., and A. Deltsidis. 2025. Protecting Peach Quality: Avoid the “Killing Zone” Storage Temperatures. University of Georgia Extension Circular. Under review.

• Horzum, Ö., N. Sugimoto, A. Engelsma, and R. M. Beaudry. 2026. Is Long-term Storage of EverCrisp Possible? New York Quarterly 34(3):19–22.

Idaho — University of Idaho

• Yadav, P. K., M. Izidoro, V. M. D. Pedrosa, S. Paytosh, J. Smith, N. Olsen, M. Dogramaci, and G. H. A. Teixeira. 2026. Pressure Bruise Simulation and the Development of Enzymatic Browning After Unloading Russet Burbank Potatoes from Storage. American Journal of Potato Research. Accepted for publication.

• Yadav, P. K., S. Paytosh, J. Smith, M. Dogramaci, N. Olsen, and G. H. A. Teixeira. 2026. Controlling Blackspot Bruise Enzymatic Browning Using Nitric Oxide and 1-Methylcyclopropene. Potato Research. Accepted for publication.

• Yadav, P. K., S. Paytosh, J. Smith, H. Hampton, A. Goyer, M. Dogramaci, N. Olsen, and G. H. A. Teixeira. 2026. Storage Effect on the Enzymatic Browning Susceptibility of Russet-type Potato Cultivars. Food Chemistry. Submitted.

• Umani, K., G. H. A. Teixeira, B. K. Schroeder, and S. Sankaran. 2026. Evaluation of Spatial Variability of Volatile Organic Compounds in Potato Bulk Storage Facility Using FAIMS. Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization 20:2096–2110. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11694-025-03819-0.

• Pedrosa, V. M. D., M. Izidoro, M. B. Silva, L. P. Gratão, V. L. B. Isaac, M. Gingri, and G. H. A. Teixeira. 2025. Far-red LED Light Treatment at Harvest and During Storage to Control Sprouting in ‘Asterix’ Potatoes. Postharvest Biology and Technology 230:113722. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.113722.

• Izidoro, M., V. M. D. Pedrosa, P. C. Spricigo, T. L. Factor, N. A. B. Lossolli, L. C. Cunha Junior, B. A. D. Guariglia, K. M. G. Lima, C. L. M. Morais, and G. H. A. Teixeira. 2025. Feasibility of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy as a Tool to Estimate Carotenoid Content in ‘IAC Rurik’ Specialty Potato Cultivar. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis 137:107130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2024.107130.

• Pedrosa, V. M. D., M. Izidoro, S. Paytosh, R. S. Dungan, N. Olsen, R. Spear, and G. H. A. Teixeira. 2025. The Relationship Between Respiration Rate and Quality Parameters of Russet Potatoes During Long-term Storage. American Journal of Potato Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-025-09977-7.

• Pedrosa, V. M. D., M. Izidoro, M. B. Silva, F. R. C. Silva, A. B. Cecilio Filho, R. F. Carvalho, A. L. Bacha, and G. H. A. Teixeira. 2025. Sprouting Control Treatment with LED Lights Does Not Affect the Biochemical Aspects of ‘Asterix’ Potatoes. Potato Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11540-024-09844-8.

• Sanches, A. G., M. B. Silva, V. M. D. Pedrosa, T. F. S. Fernandes, M. C. C. Wong, P. L. Gratão, and G. H. A. Teixeira. 2025. Quantifying Hydrocooling Water Infiltration in ‘Palmer’ Mangoes Following Hot-air Quarantine Treatment. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research 19:101625. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2024.101625.

• Marasinghe, L., C. Paiboonvorachat, B. K. Schroeder, G. H. A. Teixeira, and S. Sankaran. 2026. Real-time Sensing Technologies for Managing Postharvest Potato Quality to Reduce Crop Losses in Bulk Storage. Acta Horticulturae. Submitted.

• Teixeira, G. H. A., and N. Olsen. 2025. Glossary of Common Potato Storage Terms. University of Idaho Extension Bulletin BUL 1075.

• Paytosh, S., J. Smith, H. Hampton, P. K. Yadav, N. Olsen, and G. H. A. Teixeira. 2025. Potato Packaging: Quality Maintenance and Extending Shelf-life After Harvest. University of Idaho Extension Bulletin BUL 1098.

• Olsen, N., R. Spear, R. Hendricks, G. H. A. Teixeira, and N. Olsen. 2025. Dormancy Research Trial Results. Potato Grower Magazine 54(7):26–27.

• Teixeira, G. H. A., and N. Olsen. 2025. Relative Humidity Is a Key Aspect of Potato Storage. Potato Grower Magazine 54(6):32–33.

Kansas — Kansas State University

• Ghimire, U., E. D. Pliakoni, J. K. Brecht, and T. Liu. 2026. SAUR21-like Genes in Broccoli and Arabidopsis: Comparative Expression and Functional Characterization. Annals of Botany mcag182. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcag182.

• Galipothu, V. K., T. Kent, J. Griffin, E. D. Pliakoni, C. Rivard, and M. Bhullar. 2026. Effect of Far-UVC Light (222 nm) on Spoilage Microbes and Shelf Life of Sweetpotatoes. Journal of Food Protection 89(6):100781. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfp.2026.100781.

• Subedi, S., T. Yang, K. A. Williams, R. Liu, E. D. Pliakoni, C. L. Rivard, and X. Xu. 2025. Impact of Nutrient Solution Volume During Recirculating Hydroponic Production on Growth, Nutrient Content and Postharvest Characteristics of Four Leafy Green Species. HortScience 61(1):80–90. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI18951-25.

Maryland — University of Maryland

• Johnson, E., and M. Farcuh. 2025. Assessing the Impacts of Aminoethoxyvinylglycine and 1-Methylcyclopropene on Fruit Drop, Cracking, Quality and Related Transcript Accumulation in ‘Ambrosia’ and ‘Fuji’ Apples During On-the-tree Ripening. Frontiers in Plant Science 16:1629445. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2025.1629445.

• Farcuh, M. 2025. Understanding Chilling Injury and Sugar Metabolism-Related Genes and Metabolites in ‘Red Haven’ Peaches. Plants 14(14):2133. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14142133.

• Kohler, A., C. Hollender, D. Raines, M. Demuth, L. Tang, M. Farcuh, and C. Dardick. 2025. Working Smarter Not Harder: Silencing LAZY1 in Prunus domestica Causes Outward, Wandering Branch Orientations with Commercial and Ornamental Applications. Horticulture Research uhaf106. https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhaf106.

• Nunez, D., M. Farcuh, K. Burghardt, S. McCluen, and C. Hooks. 2025. Evaluating the Impacts of Grass and Legume Living Mulch Systems on Arthropod Pests and Beneficials, Yield and Fruit Quality in Cantaloupe. Journal of Economic Entomology toaf033. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toaf033.

• Tang, L., M. Farcuh, and C. Dardick. 2025. Pillar Tree Architecture Increases Canopy Light Interception and Impacts Fruit Quality in European Plum. Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology:1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/14620316.2025.2458100.

• Trause, M., J. Schupp, and M. Farcuh. 2025. Apple Red Skin Coloration: A Grower’s Checklist. University of Maryland Extension Factsheet FS-2025-0753. https://go.umd.edu/FS-2025-0753.

• Martinez-Gomez, P., A. Koricanac, M. Nicolas-Almansa, D. Ruiz, M. Farcuh, F. Stanica, C. Dardick, and T. DeJong. 2026. Plum (Prunus salicina) and Prune (Prunus domestica). In: G. Manganaris (ed.). Temperate Tree Fruits and Nuts, Chapter 7, pp. 295. Elsevier, Netherlands.

Michigan — Michigan State University

• Engelgau, P., S. K. Wendakoon, N. Sugimoto, and R. M. Beaudry. 2025. Fruits Produce Branched-Chain Esters Primarily from Newly Synthesized Precursors. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 73:4196–4207. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.4c10677.

• Khule, P., G. Lu, Q. Yang, R. Beaudry, and E. Almenar. 2025. Enhanced Barrier Properties of Bagasse Paperboard for Food Packaging Applications Using Shellac Coating: Effect of Concentration and Number of Layers. Progress in Organic Coatings 207:109395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.porgcoat.2025.109395.

• Gorakhnath, N. S., S. Chopra, D. Dhingra, P. K. Sahoo, R. A. Parray, M. Srivastava, M. Ray, S. Nagar, and R. Beaudry. 2025. Physicochemical Changes During the Progressive Ripening of Mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv. Pusa Manohari Under Storage Conditions. Agricultural Association of Textile Chemical Critical Review Journal 13:506–511.

• Gorakhnath, N. S., S. Chopra, D. Dhingra, P. K. Sahoo, R. A. Parray, M. Srivastava, M. Ray, S. Nagar, and R. Beaudry. 2025. Physiological Changes in ‘Pusa Manohari’ and ‘Amrapali’ Mangoes: On-tree vs. Off-tree. Indian Journal of Horticulture 82:171–178.

• Horzum, Ö., N. Sugimoto, P. Engelgau, and R. M. Beaudry. 2026. Catalytic Degradation of 1-Methylcyclopropene by Metals and Copper Compounds in Humid and Dry Conditions. Postharvest Biology and Technology 240:114470. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114470.

• Horzum, Ö., N. Sugimoto, A. Engelsma, and R. M. Beaudry. 2026. Is Long-term Storage of EverCrisp Possible? New York Quarterly 34(3):19–22.

North Carolina — North Carolina State University

• Knuth, M., R. Threlfall, M. Worthington, W. Yang, P. Perkins-Veazie, A. Fleming, and M. Hoffmann. 2025. US Consumers’ Willingness to Pay for Fresh-market Grape Attributes. HortScience 60(11):2138–2145.

• Haynes, B., G. Fernandez, G. Ma, and P. Perkins-Veazie. 2025. Anthocyanin Content and Profiles of Strawberry Fruit from North Carolina Genotypes. Journal of the American Pomological Society 79(1):1–6.

• Hsieh, W. H., Y. H. Hung, J. H. Zhang, H. Y. Chen, L. P. Lin, M. H. He, Y. C. Wang, Y. Y. Ho, G. Fernandez, P. Perkins-Veazie, and B. H. Le. 2025. Multi-Omics Analyses Reveal Dynamic Interactions Between DNA Methylation and Transcriptional Regulation During Black Raspberry Ripening. bioRxiv.

• Haynes, B., G. Fernandez, M. Iorizzo, G. Ma, H. Ashrafi, and P. Perkins-Veazie. 2026. Fruit Composition Diversity Among the North Carolina Strawberry Core Germplasm Collection. HortScience 61(3):563–570.

• Mariquit, M., N. Hernández-Martínez, P. Perkins-Veazie, G. Ma, E. Coneva, B. V. Ortiz, P. C. Bartley III, K. Lawrence, B. Chaves-Cordoba, E. L. Vinson, and M. Salazar-Gutiérrez. 2026. Yield and Fruit Quality of ‘Albion’ and ‘San Andreas’ Strawberry in Hydroponic Culture in Alabama, United States Over a Single Season. Journal of the American Pomological Society.

• Perkins-Veazie, P., G. Ma, and A. Levi. 2026. Citrulline and Arginine in Fruit Flesh of Citron (Citrullus amarus) Accessions. Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative Report 48.

New York — Cornell University

• Algul, B. E., Y. Al Shoffe, D. Park, L. Cheng, and C. B. Watkins. 2025. Preharvest 1-Methylcyclopropene and Aminoethoxyvinylglycine Treatment Effects on ‘NY2’ (RubyFrost®) Apple Fruit Quality and Postharvest Watercore Dissipation at Different Temperatures. Postharvest Biology and Technology 220:113301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2024.113301.

• Al Shoffe, Y., T. Robinson, G. Fazio, E. Follett, M. Clark, et al. 2025. ‘Honeycrisp’: The Challenge of the Apple Crisp Revolution. Fruit Research 5:e039. https://doi.org/10.48130/frures-0025-0030.

• Al Shoffe, Y. 2025. Measuring Internal and External Ethylene Concentrations in Fruits and Vegetables. In: D. Shukla (ed.). Ethylene Sensing and Signaling. Methods in Molecular Biology, Vol. 2945. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-4650-2_6.

• Al Shoffe, Y., X. Shao, J. F. Nock, M. Zhang, C. Cheng, and C. B. Watkins. 2025. Fruit Maturity Based on IAD Values in Relation to Preharvest 1-Methylcyclopropene Treatment and Postharvest Physiological Disorder Development in ‘Honeycrisp’ Apples. HortScience. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI18657-25.

• Lane, C., Y. Al Shoffe, M. G. Brown, L. Cheng, J. T. Kao-Kniffin, G. M. Peck, A. Dandekar, and C. B. Watkins. 2025. Reduced Sorbitol Genotype Alters Postharvest Microbiomes of ‘Greensleeves’ Apples. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 150(5):279–289. https://doi.org/10.21273/JASHS05521-25.

• Lane, C., J. Kao-Kniffin, and C. B. Watkins. 2025. Packing Line Processes Reshape Apple Microbiomes: Differential Effects of Chlorine and Waxing on Bacterial and Fungal Communities. HortScience 60:1462–1468. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI18722-25.

• Öz, A. T., J. F. Nock, Y. Al Shoffe, and C. B. Watkins. 2025. IAD Values in Relation to Physiological Storage Disorders of ‘Honeycrisp’ Apples. HortScience 60(6):889–893. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI18517-25.

• Al Shoffe, Y., D. Rudell, and C. B. Watkins. 2025. Internal Carbon Dioxide Injury in Organic ‘Honeycrisp’ Apples Stored in Controlled or Dynamic Controlled Atmospheres With or Without Delay in Relation to Aroma Volatiles and Fruit Quality. Acta Horticulturae 1456:1–8. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2026.1456.1.

• Al Shoffe, Y., and C. B. Watkins. 2025. Fruit Quality of ‘NY1’ Apples Stored in Air, Controlled, or Dynamic Controlled Atmosphere Storage and Interactions With Postharvest 1-Methylcyclopropene. Acta Horticulturae 1456:15–20. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2026.1456.3.

• Al Shoffe, Y., and C. B. Watkins. 2025. Mineral Content and Maturity Indices at Harvest in Relation to Stem-end Flesh Browning Development in ‘Gala’ Apples After Long-term Ultra-low Oxygen Storage. Acta Horticulturae 1432:29–35. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2025.1432.4.

• Erich, G., and Y. Al Shoffe. 2025. Metabolomic Profiling of Asimina triloba ‘Shenandoah™’ Across Tissues and Harvest Times. International Pawpaw Conference.

• Watkins, C. B. 2025. Examining the Effects of Fruit Maturity on the Relationships Between Mineral Composition and Incidence of Physiological Disorders of Apple Fruit. Acta Horticulturae 1432:235–242. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2025.1432.32.

• Al Shoffe, Y., G. J. Erich, O. B. Baker-Porazinski, H. Sun, and Z. Fei. 2025. Optimizing Harvest of Pawpaw, the Forgotten North American Fruit, Nondestructively to Extend Postharvest Longevity. Fruit Quarterly 33(1):23–27.

• Lane, C., J. Kao-Kniffin, and C. B. Watkins. 2025. Understanding the Fruit Microbiome. Fruit Quarterly 33(3):28–31.

• Watkins, C. B., and J. F. Nock. 2025. Plant Growth Regulators on ‘Honeycrisp’ Apples: Thoughts and Questions About the Effects of Maturity Manipulation on Storage Disorders. Fruit Quarterly 33(2):20–24.

• Banda, K., Y. Al Shoffe, and C. B. Watkins. 2026. Cultivars and Curing Conditions Affect Sweetpotato Chilling Injury Responses. HortScience 61(3):640–646.

• Costa, F., S. Brown, M. Tagliavini, A. Botton, L. Kalcsits, A. Peil, and C. B. Watkins. 2026. Apple. In: G. Manganaris (ed.). Temperate Tree Fruits and Nuts, Chapter 1, pp. 1–48. Academic Press, Elsevier.

• Gibian-Lane, C., J. Kao-Kniffin, and C. B. Watkins. 2026. The Ecological and Mechanistic Future of the Apple Fruit Microbiome. Journal of Experimental Horticulture 2:100012. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jxh.2026.100012.

• Gibian-Lane, C., J. Kao-Kniffin, and C. B. Watkins. 2026. Within-tree Biogeography Shapes Composition and Diversity of Apple Microbiomes. Ecosphere 17:e70659. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.70659.

• Watkins, C. B., J. F. Nock, and Y. Al Shoffe. 2026. Plant Growth Regulator Effects on Physiological Disorders of ‘McIntosh’ Apples. Acta Horticulturae 1458:259–266. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2026.1458.34.

• Al Shoffe, Y., and C. B. Watkins. 2026. Managing Internal Browning in MAIA-1 (EverCrisp®) During Controlled Atmosphere and Dynamic Controlled Atmosphere Storage. Fruit Quarterly 34(1):8–10.

• Al Shoffe, Y., and C. B. Watkins. 2026. MAIA-1 (EverCrisp®) Apples: The Need to Prolong Storability. The Ortet 11.

Nova Scotia — Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville Research and Development Centre

• McCoy, H., K. M. Gardner, S. R. Achakkagari, C. Zeng, G. Zamzam, P. MacKinley, J. Vickruck, J. Song, M. Stromvik, L. Calhoun, and H. Tai. 2026. QTL Mapping Lactones in Potato Hybridized With Colorado Potato Beetle Resistant Wild Species Solanum okadae. American Journal of Potato Research. In press.

• Song, J., C. Forney, L. Campbell Palmer, M. Vinqvist-Tymchuk, H. Wright, and S. Fillmore. 2026. Metabolomics Changes in ‘Honeycrisp’ Apple During Cold Storage in Association With Soft Scald Disorder Development and Delayed Cooling Treatment. Scientia Horticulturae 355:114535. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114535.

• Song, J., B. Amyotte, L. Campbell Palmer, M. Vinqvist-Tymchuk, and L. De Ros. 2025. Untargeted Metabolomic Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals Genetic and Biochemical Insights Into Polyphenols of Apple Fruit. Horticulture Research 12(9):uhaf159. https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhaf159.

Washington — Washington State University

• Torres, C. A., R. Mogollon, F. Critzer, B. Ruiz-Llacsahuanga, M. Sanchez-Tamayo, and K. Anderson. 2025. Lenticel Breakdown Disorder Development on Apples (Malus domestica Borkh.): A Survey of Water Chemistry During Packaging and the Effect of Sanitizers in the Processing Water. HortScience 60(7):1050–1057. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI18533-25.

• Amankona, S., H. P. Lwin, and C. A. Torres. 2026. DCA Is a Viable Non-chemical Strategy That Preserves the Quality of Organic ‘Gala’ Apples in Long Supply Chains. Acta Horticulturae 1456:9–14. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2026.1456.2.

• Bolanos, G., R. Mogollón, and C. A. Torres. 2026. Evaluating Cold Chain Scenarios to Optimize Sweet Cherry Quality. Acta Horticulturae 1456:163–170. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2026.1456.21.

• Cabote, N. J., R. K. Gallardo, C. A. Torres, and S. P. Galinato. 2026. Economic Analysis of Dynamic Controlled Atmosphere Storage for Organic Apples. HortScience 61(3):483–493. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI19140-25.

• Cabote, N. J., R. K. Gallardo, C. A. Torres, and S. P. Galinato. 2026. Optimizing Economic Outcomes in Organic Apple Storage via Dynamic Controlled Atmosphere. Acta Horticulturae 1456:29–36. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2026.1456.5.

• Lwin, H. P., S. Amankona, D. Rudell, and C. A. Torres. 2026. Effects of Temperature and Dynamic Controlled Atmosphere Storage on Fruit Quality and Disorder Incidence in ‘Gala’ Apples. Acta Horticulturae 1456:321–326. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2026.1456.42.

• Ortega-Salazar, I., and C. A. Torres. 2026. Impact of Organic Aminoethoxyvinylglycine Formulation on Pre- and Postharvest Apple Ripening. HortScience 61(6):1183–1191. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI19332-26.

• Patel, S., R. Goyal, C. A. Torres, J. Tang, J. Huang, C. L. Munson, and S. S. Sablani. 2026. A Data-driven Framework for Remaining Shelf-life Prediction of Sweet Cherries Under Modified Atmosphere Packaging and Variable Cold-chain Conditions. Food Packaging and Shelf Life 56:101808. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fpsl.2026.101808.