Source: OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to NRP
DISCOVERY OF NATURAL PRODUCTS AS SPROUT INHIBITORS FOR ORGANIC POTATO AND DEVELOPMENT OF METHODS FOR THEIR APPLICATION
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1031168
Grant No.
2023-51300-40852
Cumulative Award Amt.
$1,999,277.00
Proposal No.
2023-04464
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2023
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2027
Grant Year
2023
Program Code
[113.A]- Organic Agriculture Research & Extension Initiative
Recipient Organization
OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
CORVALLIS,OR 97331
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The project will identify essential oil (EO) blends for suppression of premature tuber sprouting in potato storage and will develop microencapsulation methods for delivery of the best products. The hypothesis is that synthetic growth suppressants such as chlorpropham (CIPC) can be replaced with microencapsulated EO blends and fractions. The goal is to develop several potato sprout- suppression products for organic potatoes and also methods for their encapsulation and application. The objectives are: (1) Discovery and development of blends from EO that exhibited sprout suppression in our previous studies; (2) Microencapsulation of the most effective EO blends with biodegradable polymeric carriers; (3) Test microencapsulated EO blends in laboratory, semi-commercial and commercial settings, (4) Potato tuber chemistry and hormonal balance as a function of microencapsulated EO blends application; (5) Evaluate safety of the new EO- based products using a high throughput platform, (6) Communicate the results. Incorporate the information into online classes. The project objectives match FY 2022 Purpose and Priorities, specifically Priority 3: "..evaluate, develop, and improve allowable post-harvest handling, processing, and food safety practices to reduce toxins ..., while increasing shelf-life, quality, and other economically important characteristics" and Priority 5: "Explore technologies that meet the requirements of the National Organic Program (NOP) and protect soil, water, and other natural resources", and Priority 8: "Develop .. curriculum for organic agriculture". The project will address limitations in organic potato storage and sprout control. The results will facilitate the development of new potato sprout suppressors or inhibitors, improve the quality of potatoes, reduce environmental impact, improve access of the US potatoes to additional markets, and contribute to improved human health.
Animal Health Component
30%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
50%
Applied
30%
Developmental
20%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
20513101020100%
Knowledge Area
205 - Plant Management Systems;

Subject Of Investigation
1310 - Potato;

Field Of Science
1020 - Physiology;
Goals / Objectives
The goal is to develop safe potato sprout suppression/inhibitor product(s) for organic potato and methods for their microencapsulation and application. The project will address serious limitations in organic potato storage. The results will facilitate the development of new potato sprout suppressors or inhibitors, improve potato quality, reduce environmental impact, and contribute to improved human health. The project is based on discussions with potato growers, and will have a positive effect on expanding certified organic potato production, enhance access to additional markets and consumer groups, and increase the competitiveness of the U.S. potato industry.The following objectives will be addressed in the 2023-27 seasons:Objective 1: Discovery and development of blends from essential oils (EO) that exhibited sprout suppression in our previous studies. Bioassay-guided fractionation.Objective 2: Microencapsulation of the best EO blends with biodegradable polymeric carriers;Objective 3: Testing microencapsulated EO blends in laboratory, semi-commercial and commercial settings,Objective 4: Potato tuber chemistry and hormonal balance as a function of non- and microencapsulated EO blends and microemulsions application;Objective 5: Evaluate the safety of the new EO- based products using a high throughput screening platformObjective 6: Communicate the results to the potato industry, scientists, extension, students, and general public. Incorporate the information into online undergraduate and graduate certificates in Organic Agriculture to reach out to students across the nation and abroad.
Project Methods
Methods:Objective 1: Discovery and development of blends from Essential Oils (EO) that exhibited sprout suppression in our previous studies; bioassay-guided fractionation.The EO fractions and blends will be assessed again at the best concentration ranges.A selected group of the most effective EO blends, EO fractions, and pure compounds for suppressing sprouting from the previous groups of experiments will be evaluated at different concentrationsObjective 2: Microencapsulation of the best EO blends with biodegradable polymeric carriers and microemulsions.Our first approach lies in encapsulating oils within spherical and hollow chitosan biodegradable beads, which will be generated using the spray drying technique. We intend to generate spherical and hollow EO-loaded chitosan beads with different sizes and polymeric outer thickness and investigate the release of EO blends on potatoes.Our second strategy for encapsulating EO and controlling their release lies in using microemulsions.We propose developing microemulsion formulations with the identified EOs stabilized with nonionic surfactants in an aqueous medium. The proposed work consists of;(1) To develop the phase diagram(2) To study the effect of different surfactants on the phase diagram and select the optimal surfactant system.Experimental set-up. Construction of ternary Phase Diagrams. The phase diagram is constructed to identify the formulation components' molar ratio that provides the highest solubility and stability for the compound of interest. In other words, this diagram will be used to optimize different conditions with the goal to find the optimum concentrations (ratio) between the components to generate the best microemulsions.Objective 3: Testing microencapsulated EO blends in laboratory, semi-commercial and commercial settings. Several relevant laboratories, semi commercial, and commercial-type trials will follow the development of microencapsulation technology, to facilitate the development of application methods.Objective 4: Potato tuber chemistry and hormonal balance as a function of microencapsulated EO blends application; The mechanisms of EO effect on tuber meristems will be elucidated using a combination of targeted and untargeted metabolomics using an orbitrap quadrupole LS-MS approach. We will test to hypothesis that EOs disrupt sprouting via ABA and other phytohormone interactions and physical damage to meristems. The combination effect of disrupting sprouting via hormone-related crosstalk and physical damage ('burning') meristems will be investigated. Targeted metabolomic analysis of meristems will include various plant hormones, sugars and derivatives, as well as other compounds chosen by the team. Microcopy will include SEM, epifluorescence microscopy as well as confocal.Objective 5: Evaluate the safety of selected whole oils, EO blends and fractions and the new EO- based products using a high throughput screening platform.Zebrafish (Danio rerio): The zebrafish embryo is a powerful and relevant in vivo model for assessing chemical safety.General Approach. Rapid in vivo analysis. High throughput analysis will be applied to evaluate the toxicity of whole EO, EO-fractions and microencapsulated EO blends. Our multi-dimensional embryonic zebrafish system platform will provide unbiased and comprehensive biological response profiles for EOs. Methods: EO exposures. Embryonic zebrafish will be exposed to 7 concentrations + control for each EO-based product.Statistical analysis. All statistical analysis will be performed using custom code developed as the zfish R package through an intuitive GUI. The analysis options in zfish include both traditional statistical methods.Objective 6 of the project focuses on extension and education. The goal is to communicate the project's results to various stakeholders, including the potato industry, scientists, extension agents, students, and the general public. Dr. Jeliazkov, an expert in potato sprout control, will lead these efforts, with the participation of all project participants and collaborators to meet Objective 5 on extension and education.The project aims to disseminate its findings through several channels, including:Two concise factsheets.A recorded webinar for eOrganic.An article published on eOrganic.A dedicated project website.Presentations at growers' meetings and field days.Articles published in scientific journals.Integration of new knowledge into two Online Certificates on Organic Farming offered at OSU.To provide timely information to growers, a factsheet will be developed at the end of the first year, presenting preliminary data. Another factsheet will be created near the project's completion, incorporating the finalized field data. Additionally, project participants will deliver presentations at the annual OR Potato Growers meetings and potato field days.Through these comprehensive efforts, the project aims to effectively communicate its findings, engage relevant stakeholders, and contribute to the dissemination of knowledge in the field of potato production and sprout control.The results will be included in teaching materials for OSU in-person and online courses. Teaching module on essential oils efficacy, safety and mode of action for potato sprout control in certified organic systems will be developed and included in OSU existing courses offered V.D. Jeliazkov:• AGRI 420/520 Introduction to Organic Food Production• SOIL/CROP 430/530 Organic Soil and Crop ManagementThese courses are Ecampus (online), and reach out to students and professionals across the US and internationally https://ecampus.oregonstate.edu/online-degrees/graduate/organic-agriculture/. Also, the module will be made available to instructors in the Online Undergraduate Certificate in Organic Systems (https://ecampus.oregonstate.edu/online-degrees/undergraduate/certificates/ organic-farming-systems/ ) and in the OSU Sustainability Double Degree Program. A short video and multimedia on the utilization of essential oils as sprout inhibitors in the potato will be developed utilizing the facilities of OSU Ecampus (the online section of OSU) to be used by the OR specialty growers and for students.

Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience:We actively engaged with potato growers by delivering a presentation at the Hermiston Farm Fair in December 2023, which reached an audience of approximately 110 participants. Additionally, my graduate students and I presented our research findings at prestigious international conferences, attracting a diverse audience that included professionals, extension agents, and researchers from around the globe. These events provided valuable platforms for disseminating our work, facilitating meaningful discussions, and fostering collaborations within the broader agricultural community. Such interactions have significantly enhanced the impact, visibility, and relevance of our research. Conference Presentations Jeliazkov, V.D. 2023. Essential oils for potato sprout control. Hermiston Farm Fair, December 2023, Hermiston, Oregon. Event details Scientific Journal Publications.The student names are indicated with an asterisk. Alzarqaa*, A., T. Astatkie, C.L. Cantrell, V.D. Zheljazkov. 2024. Efficacy of essential oils in suppressing potato sprouting. Industrial Crops and Products, 222, Part 1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2024.119561 Mukhlid*, H., C.L. Cantrell, V.D. Zheljazkov. 2024. Do essential oils suppress potato sprout growth? Industrial Crops and Products 219, 119081 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2024.119081 Changes/Problems:We do not anticipate any major challenges. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project provided graduate students and participants with a comprehensive understanding of potato sprout control through hands-on research and practical application. Graduate students gained valuable experience in data analysis and the preparation of manuscripts for publication, honing their technical expertise alongside essential skills in scientific writing, critical thinking, and effective communication. These activities equipped students to present their findings to diverse audiences and navigate the challenges of professional research environments. By fostering these competencies, the project significantly enhanced their preparedness for future careers in academia and industry. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?As indicated earlier, we worked actively to disseminate the initial results from this study. The project director presented at the Hermiston Farm Fair in December, 2023. Jeliazkov, V.D. 2023. Essentail oils for potato sprout control. Hermiston Farm Fair, Dec 2023, in Hermiston, Oregon. https://www.owgl.org/events/2023/the-50th-hermiston-farm-fair-seminars? Additionally, we are currently working to compile some of the preliminary results in a manuscript for a scientific journal. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period, we plan to implement activities aligned with each project objective to ensure continued progress toward our goals: Objective 1 - Discovery and Development of Essential Oil (EO) Blends: We will conduct bioassay-guided fractionation to identify and refine EO blends with enhanced sprout suppression capabilities based on our previous studies. This process will include chemical profiling and compound identification to pinpoint active components. Objective 2 - Microencapsulation: Efforts will focus on optimizing the microencapsulation of the most effective EO blends using biodegradable polymeric carriers. This includes developing stable formulations and evaluating their suitability for sprout suppression. Objective 3 - Testing in Various Settings: We will advance testing of microencapsulated EO blends in laboratory, semi-commercial, and commercial environments. Controlled experiments will assess their efficacy under different storage conditions and variable parameters. Objective 4 - Potato Tuber Chemistry and Hormonal Balance: We will continue analyzing potato tissue samples using HPLC/MS to monitor plant hormones, glucose, and abscisic acid levels. These analyses will evaluate the biochemical effects of EO and microencapsulated EO blends on potato quality and sprout suppression. Objective 5 - Safety Evaluation: Using a high-throughput screening platform, we will evaluate the safety and environmental compatibility of the newly developed EO-based products, ensuring they meet industry standards and regulatory requirements. Objective 6 - Communication and Outreach: We will present key findings at grower meetings, such as the Hermiston Farm Fair, and share initial results at scientific conferences to engage stakeholders and researchers. Additionally, we will incorporate findings into online undergraduate and graduate certificates in Organic Agriculture, broadening the reach of our educational initiatives to students nationwide and internationally. Manuscripts summarizing project findings will also be prepared for submission to peer-reviewed journals.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We have initiated and conducted several experiments to achieve the objectives of this study. Our research identified several essential oil blends that outperformed clove (Syzygium aromaticum) essential oil, which is the standard for potato sprout control in certified organic production and storage. Additionally, we have made significant progress in the microencapsulation of individual essential oils and essential oil blends. We successfully developed emulsions of these blends using biodegradable polymeric carriers and conducted further experiments to evaluate their effectiveness in potato sprout control. Through these trials, we identified treatments that demonstrated high efficacy in suppressing potato sprouting. Consequently, we initiated an invention disclosure through the Oregon State University inventor portal. While we are continuing to refine this process, the disclosure has yet to be submitted to the OSU Intellectual Property Office for initial review and feedback. To support this work, we hired a graduate student who is actively conducting experiments and contributing to the achievement of the study's objectives.

Publications

  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Alzarqaa, A., T. Astatkie, C.L. Cantrell, V.D. Zheljazkov. 2024. Efficacy of essential oils in suppressing potato sprouting. Industrial Crops and Products, 222, Part 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2024.119561
  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Mukhlid, H., C.L. Cantrell, V.D. Zheljazkov. 2024. Do essential oils suppress potato sprout growth? Industrial Crops and Products 219, 119081 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2024.119081