Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Development of soggy breakdown and soft scald is associated with later harvest dates and storage of fruit at temperatures of 0-0.5 ºC. Honeycrisp apples should be stored at 3 ºC [MI, NY-I]. DPA sometimes reduced soft scald. Both soggy breakdown and soft scald were markedly reduced or eliminated by keeping Honeycrisp at 10 or 20 ºC before storage [MI]. Trees with a heavier crop load had fruit with more soft scald [MA, MN]. Foliar applications of calcium chloride controlled bitter pit in Honeycrisp apples. [NY-G]. GoldRush apples maintained better quality than Fuji, Pink Lady and Granny Smith apples during 12 months of storage in air at 0 ºC. [MD-USDA]. Instrumental and sensory quality characteristics of six genotypes of orange-fleshed honeydews were better than those of a green-fleshed honeydew [MD-USDA]. Primocane-fruiting blackberries provide new market potential in northern and deep South areas of the US [OK]. A peroxidase isozyme was tentatively shown to be associated with susceptibility of fruit cultivars to scald [NY-I]. Scald did not develop at temperatures above 6 oC. 1-MCP, low O2, 1-MCP + low O2, and emulsion of 1.5% vegetable oil were very effective in inhibiting the development of scald in Granny Smith apples kept at 1 oC [MD]. The appearance of lenticel breakdown following packing could be related to the use of specific chemicals in the postharvest packing process. Fruit temperature and type of packingline (pre-size) influenced the amount of lenticel breakdown [WA-W]. Soil gypsum application increased Redcort apples calcium concentration and controlled bitter pit development [MA]. The fungicides fludioxonil, pyrimethanil, and a pyraclostrobin-boscalid mixture provided good control of Penicillium expansum [NY-G]. Postharvest decay of Golden Delicious apples caused by Colletotrichum acutatum and Penicillium expansum was most effectively controlled by heat treatment in combination with antagonists [MD-USDA]. Of the 25 Generally Recognized as Safe chemicals evaluated, 6 were found to have activity against common stone fruit pathogens [CA]. Exposure of blueberries to 2000 or 4000 J of UV-C light could reduce decay. Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Botrytis cinerea, and Alternaria tenuissima were the primary postharvest fungi found. UV-C light may have a use in blueberry harvesting and cleaning procedures when rainfall has been high or prolonged [OK]. Pear varieties differ in their susceptibility to B. cinerea and that there is no strict correlation between C2H4 production and fruit ripening or disease susceptibility [OR]. Growing season-applied soybean oil (soft insecticide) sprays could improve the at-harvest quality and postharvest behavior of Golden Delicious and Fuji apples. Significant findings thus far include: apple response to oil depends on application timing; fruit treated with Orchex (paraffinic control) behaved similar to untreated fruit under all conditions; fruit finish was not affected; weight loss during storage and subsequent shelf life was improved (less weight loss) by oil treatment; surface wax development was altered, dependent on application time, variety, storage conditions, and growing area; volatile aroma production was consistently higher in apples treated with soybean oil 21 days before harvest; oil treatment improved retention of flavor impact alcohols in apples held in prolonged CA storage; and flavor regeneration capacity of apples was improved, especially by late season soybean oil applications [WA-P]. Asian and Mexican guavas and Fuyu persimmons tolerated radio frequency heating treatments designed to control Mexican fruit flies [CA]. With 10, 20, and 80% CO2 treatments, ATP levels decreased and resulted in the greatest mortality of Platynota stultana. Resistance to CA in Pseudococcus mealybugs may be due to differences in metabolic rates. Having a low metabolic rate may help them resisting CA [CA]. Maturity and delays between harvest and 1-MCP application can affect responses of fruit to 1-MCP. Strategies to decrease losses of fruit resulting from CO2 injury have been developed [NY-I, MI]. In order to obtain the maximum benefit of 1-MCP for McIntosh apples treated with or without ReTain, the 1-MCP needed to be applied within the first two or three days after harvest [MI]. The combined application of 1-2 ppm 1-MCP with 1-1.5% O2 was effective in suppressing the start of C2H4 climacteric over long periods of time. Even at 6.5 oC, the rise in C2H4 evolution was suppressed for 193 days. When the fruits were transferred to 18 oC, there was a rise in C2H4 evolution and an increase in the accumulation of ACC-1, ERS1 and PG gene transcripts, as well as softening [MD]. 1-MCP treatment to apples in refrigerator trailers reduced postharvest C2H4 production and improved firmness retention of fruit. 1-MCP treatment substantially reduced superficial scald on apples [MA, MI]. Applying 1-MCP prior to storage plus CA at 0 ºC could control diffuse skin browning of Golden Delicious apples [WA-W]. The fresh-cut slices from 1-MCP treated apples had faster browning rate when prepared after 3 months of storage. The fresh-cut slices from CA stored apples had faster browning rate when prepared after 5 and 7 months of storage. Volatile compound production was reduced by both 1-MCP and CA [MI]. Treatment of Empire apples with 1-MCP did not affect decay susceptibility of fruit inoculated with P. expansum either at wounds or on stems [NY-G]. Honeycrisp, MN1802, and MN1915 apples did not change in crispness after 4 months of cold storage. A sibling of Honeycrisp, MN1708, was as firm as Honeycrisp at harvest, but softened significantly during storage. Genes that are differentially expressed between fresh and stored Macoun apple fruit have been identified. These data will help breeders develop apples with improved fruit texture [MN]. Data on phenolic profiles and antioxidant capacity of pears, sweet cherries, and pomegranates provide more reasons for increased consumption of fruits [CA]. Raspberry varieties show differences in antioxidant content with production environment and harvest date. Varieties grown in WA were lower in antioxidants than those grown in NY. Black raspberries were generally highest in all antioxidant assays, but yellow raspberries were often similar to red raspberries in total phenolics and FRAP [OK]. The antioxidant profiles and possible associated health benefits of strawberry fruit have been assessed. Cultivar effects on phenolic contents were compared with antioxidant capacities, as measured by the Total Oxyradical Scavenging Capacity assay, and to antiproliferative activities, as measured by inhibition of HepG2 human liver cancer cell proliferation in vitro [NY-I]. Levels and types of antioxidant hydroxycinnamic acid (HCA) conjugates in eggplant fruit from genetically diverse accessions within the USDA core collection were determined. The potent antioxidant chlorogenic acid was the predominant compound in fruit flesh of most accessions. Novel HCA polyamine conjugates with potential hypotensive activity were isolated from several accessions of Solanum melongena, S. anguivi, and S. incanum [MD-USDA]. Consumer tests with apples of various firmness levels were evaluated by consumers in an open-air market in Portland Oregon. Graphs of firmness vs. willingness to buy have been generated and are being used in discussions with retailers by marketing agencies [WA-W]. A survey of pear packers was conducted to determine the methods used to condition (partially ripen) pears. Conditioning is leading to increase pear sales across the USA. The most effective methods require warming pears then treating to C2H4 at 100ppm for 24 hours followed by cooling. The most consistent ripeness was obtained on pears that were placed in vented cartons without poly liners. The greatest risk is shrivel and the appearance of decay or storage scald [WA-W]. C2H4 plays an important role in apple flavor development by regulating biosynthesis of aroma esters and some of the organic acids, sugars, and phenolic compounds that influence acidity, sweetness, and astringency, respectively [CA]. The expression of ACS1, ETR1, ERS1, ETR2 and ERS2 at different stages of fruit ripening and in response to treatments that interfere with the synthesis of C2H4. ACS1 and ERS1 are expressed only in fruits that are producing C2H4. Treatments that suppress the initiation and/or inhibition of C2H4 evolution drastically decrease the accumulation of their transcripts [MD]. The strategy of extending shelf life of apples by down regulating C2H4 production using the tools of genetic engineering is a viable alternative to CA storage [NY-G]. The relative amounts of 40 esters and a-farnesene of 13 apple varieties were determined using the solid phase microextraction with a polydimethylsiloxane fiber coupled with GC-MS. Principle Component Analyses of these results clustered the apples into three groups according to skin color: red, green, and red-green. The red cluster apples had the highest total ester contents and the green cluster apples had the highest a-farnesene levels [ON]. For CA stored Royal Gala apples subsequently placed at room temperature for 11 days, the amount of increase of volatiles was inversely proportional to the size of the ester [ON]. Primers based on the a-farnesene synthase cDNA AFS1 from scald-prone Law Rome apple were used to clone the corresponding cDNA from scald-resistant Idared apple. RNA isolated from leaf tissue and primers based on the genomic sequence were used to clone a full-length cDNA of HMG2, a gene thought to encode an isozyme of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase that initiates a-farnesene synthesis in peel tissue [MD-USDA]. Fruit from fifty six transgenic McIntosh trees containing the ACS2 antisense construct was analyzed for C2H4 production, soluble solids, firmness, ACS and polygalacturonase activity and compared to control McIntosh fruit. Twelve transgenic trees produced fruit with significantly down regulated C2H4 production. Lowest C2H4 production was observed in the transgenic line TM503. Its ACS enzyme activity was also significantly lower. [NY-G]. Granny Smith apples treated with a farnesyl protein transferase (FPT) inhibitor scald similarly to RA stored controls. An intact FPT protein remains in the peel of apples treated with an FPT inhibitor, thus inhibition does not lead to destruction of the protein. Apparently farnesyl pyrophosphate mediated signalling events are involved in the development of scald symptoms [WA-P]. New York State has devised a genetic based strategy to interfere with the softening of McIntosh apples. Evaluation of the transgenic McIntosh fruit resulted in the selection of four transgenic trees. The best performing fruit was obtained from the transformation line TM503 [NY-G, ON]. Study on manipulating tomato aroma by altering fatty acid desaturase gene expression showed that the in vivo reduction of linolenic acid content in tomato tissue reduces the biosynthesis of one of the most important volatile compounds in tomato aroma, cis-3-hexenal. The shift in volatiles brought about by the altered fatty acid content was detectable by olfactory sense of humans and was perceived to be detrimental to fruit aroma [MI]. Structural analysis of pectin oligomers that accumulate in ripening tomatoes suggests that polygalacturonase (PG), pectin lyase and rhamogalacturonase are all active in the fruit [CA]. When the oligosaccharides generated during B. cinerea infection of tomato are applied to healthy fruit tissues, many genes that are expressed in infected fruit are activated [CA]. The PG in the saliva of some insects may be an important factor in the damage these insects cause to crop plants. Plant PG-inhibiting proteins will reduce the activity of some insect PGs and, perhaps, reduce the damage the insects cause [CA]. A large QTL for stone fruit mealiness was identified at the locus for endo-PG. The use of marker-assisted selection in breeding for low susceptibility to internal breakdown symptoms in peach appears to be an achievable goal [CA]. Red-fruited Autumn Olive is a rich source of lycopene that is affected by maturity. Its berries are edible, although often astringent, and contain extremely high amounts of lycopene (200-300 ug /g fwt). Plants are being adapted for domestic use and mechanical harvest and berries are cleaner and higher in lycopene [OK]. Carotenoid content of watermelon is affected by storage temperature, with greatest changes found in a hybrid-seeded melon [OK]. The concentration of anthocyanins in strawberries could be increased by exogenously applying riboflavin to the fruit immediately after harvest. The level of effect would be dependent on the concentration of riboflavin used in the treatment [ON].

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