IMPROVING AND MAINTAINING POSTHARVEST ATTRIBUTES OF FRESH PRODUCE TO PROMOTE CONSUMER CONSUMPTION AND IMPROVED HEALTH

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: NEW
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1001328
• Project No.: NC02434
• Project Start Date: Oct 1, 2013
• Project End Date: Sep 30, 2018

Project Director
Perkins-Veazie, P.

Recipient Organization
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV
(N/A)
RALEIGH,NC 27695

Performing Department
Horticultural Science

Non Technical Summary
Fruits and vegetables continue to respire and change, often in undesirable ways, after harvest. Fresh produce undergoes continuous physiological changes from two to 200 days, depending on the commodity. Despite aggressive changes in handling and storage practices, it is estimated that at least 20% of fresh produce never reaches consumers in the U.S. This figure can be as high as 80% in parts of the world where only minimal refrigeration and transportation systems are in place. U.S. consumers are encouraged to eat 5 to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables each day, yet the average intake is closer to 3 servings daily. There are a number of chronic diseases shown to be directly affected by diet, and the importance of fruits and vegetables in a healthy diet is encouraged as a means of decreasing the incidence of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and cancer. Fruits and vegetables, whether used fresh or processed, must be of optimal maturity and quality to ensure appealing and nutritious products for consumers. Consumers are interested in the health benefits of consumption whole foods, rather than extracts of single compounds, as a means to slow onset or progression of chronic diseases. For instance, dietary changes for consumption of specific berries for preventing cancer recurrence or for inflammation, or of vegetables high in xanthophylls to help overcome or slow macular degeneration has been put forward as a way to extend quality of life. While much work has been focused on identification of genetic and environmental effects on plant compounds, little has been done to look at ways to enhance compounds of interest after harvest. In order to preserve quality, shelf life strategies have to be devised for each commodity that are based on certain indicators, such as rates of respiration and water loss, response to presence or absence of ethylene, and sensitivity to low or warm temperature storage. As the successful engagement of these strategies has been accomplished, the definition of quality has also changed. High quality product, once expected only to be free of injury, decay, and of attractive appearance, is now also expected to be safe (free of food borne pathogens or pesticides), of appealing aroma and taste, and have elevated levels of vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. Further, development of niche markets for functional foods tailored for at-risk individuals has driven interest in high quality produced with enhanced and specific phytochemicals. A marketed example of this is tocopherol-enhanced broccoli (Beneforte TM). And, as techniques expand in metabolomics and proteonomics, it has become simpler to determine the effects that breeding techniques or production changes have on biochemical events in plants, and which specific phytochemicals trigger desirable changes in human metabolism.

Animal Health Component

0%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

5%

Applied

90%

Developmental

5%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
503	1129	1020	80%
503	1420	1020	10%
503	1460	1020	10%

Knowledge Area
503 - Quality Maintenance in Storing and Marketing Food Products;

Subject Of Investigation
1460 - Tomato; 1129 - Berries and cane fruits, general/other; 1420 - Melons;

Field Of Science
1020 - Physiology;

Keywords

postharvest

watermelon

small fruits

vegetable

storage life

carotenoid

Goals / Objectives
The first objective is to refine and/or establish methods and techniques that can be standardized for use by fruit and vegetable breeders for screening of internal and external quality attributes specific to their crops, including firmness, The third objective is to provide a timely and satisfactory means for adaptation and adoption of research by growers to maximize produce quality.

Project Methods
PROCEDURES: Objective 1. Enhancing quality of fruits and vegetables, including breeding selections and those grown in protected environment systems Investigate treatments to extend small fruit shelf life Compare postharvest quality in advanced selections of breeding trials in strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry Develop rapid screening systems for physical and biochemical composition of small fruits Protocols for raspberry quality ratings have been established. High tunnel production effects on quality and productivity continue to be challenging, and application of new types of production systems, such as long cane, require additional evaluation. Muscadine grape production for fresh market is currently an emerging crop in NC and the southern US, with evaluation of suitable selections needed to establish shelf life limits. Protocols for muscadine shelf life and ratings have been developed and will be used to further evaluate new selections. Fruit quality parameters and issues in small fruit are well defined. Ability to withstand decay, leakage and weight loss over time in the value chain are the primary limitations of small fruit marketability. Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) has become a major invasive pest for small fruits, especially blackberry and raspberry. Fruit will be harvested directly into clamshells (plastic boxes) and held at 5 or 20 C for 3 days to 3 weeks at relative humidities of 50 to 95%. Preliminary data indicate that fruit decay in tunnel-grown strawberries begins at 6 days postharvest at ambient temperature (20 C) while decay at 5 C takes 3 weeks to develop early in the harvest season. Amount of decay (0 (none) to 3 (completely covered)) will be noted as well. For raspberries, firmness will be estimated using a firmness tester (FDIX 20 kg (Wagner Instruments), drill press mounted) and measuring resistance to closing of the fruit opening. Blackberries will be rated for firmness with a subjective system of 1 to 5 (firm to mush), decay, and leakiness using the protocol developed by Perkins-Veazie (1996). Strawberry firmness will be monitored by resistance to compression using a FDK10 fruit gauge (Wagner instruments, Greenwich, CT). Preharvest applications of waxes will be tested to determine their effectiveness in deterring SWD and the effects of such applications on yield and postharvest quality. Objective 2. Identification and quantification of compounds affecting shelf life and phytochemical importance in fruits and vegetables Screen Rubus germplasm for carotenoids Determine complete phenolic profile in watermelon fruit Breeding lines of raspberry, blackberry, strawberry, tomato, and watermelon will be evaluated for nutritional and phytochemical compounds of interest. In watermelon, a number of heirloom and seedless types will be used to determine total lycopene and citrulline using spectrophotometric, Perkins-Veazie et al., 2001) and complete carotenoid profile screening will be done using hexane and methanol extracts (Craft, 2001) and mass spectrometry. Tomatoes of a number of lines developed over the past three decades by Dr. Randy Gardner will be grown at Mills River, NC by Dr. Panthee and harvested and frozen for total lycopene and soluble solids content determinations. At least 2 harvests per selection, consisting of 4 fruits per harvest, will be used. Total lycopene content will be determined by Hunter colorimeter and soluble solids will be measured with digital refractometer (Perkins-Veazie et al., 2007). For small fruits (blackberry, raspberry, black raspberry, strawberry), total phenolic and anthocyanin content will be determined using the methods of Sinwoharn et al. (2004). Specific anthocyanin glucosides and aroma volatiles of strawberry will be determined using QTOF (Quadrupole Time-of-Flight) mass spectrometry, adapting methods of Qian et al. (2005) and Wang et al. (2005).. Vitamin C will be monitored in strawberry using the spectrophotometric method of Hodges and Forney (2003) Carotenoids, including lycopene, beta carotene, and lutein of tomato, watermelon, and other crops as needed, will be determined using HPLC, spectrophotometric, and ultrascan methods (Craft, 2001; Sadler et al., 1990; Davis et al., 2003). Chlorophyll will be determined as needed in crops using 80/20% acetone:water extracts (Lichtenthaler, 2001). Objective 3. Develop technologies and tools for small growers for postharvest use Adaptation of Pack N Cool trailer for small grower uses Postharvest Internet portal A 5x8 cargo trailer was insulated and fitted with cool bot technology, which creates refrigerated storage to 34 F utilizing a home air conditioning unit. Initial tests with the trailer proved highly successful, and numerous requests and interest in this mobile system has been expressed. Continuing work will be done to test limits and possible alternate uses of the system, as well as gathering temperature stability data and possible changes to the unit for better lighting and air movement. Considerable field testing of the unit by growers or other parties (farm to school programs, food pantries) will be coordinated and documented to gather application ideas and possible barriers to use. A postharvest website is needed within horticulture to link to multiple websites (such as those from UC Davis, University of Florida, Cornell) on postharvest type storage recommendations or practical advice. Current research in postharvest at NCSU also needs a direct home. A portal has been initiated and will be populated. Facilities Facilities at the North Carolina Research Campus include individual laboratories of 1150 square feet and offices of 300 square feet, and access to cold rooms, dishwashing and storage areas located on each of 4 floors. Greenhouse and field space is available at the Piedmont Research Station in Salisbury, about 20 miles from the campus, and other locations in the state, including coastal and mountain locations. Facilities for highly specialized work are available in the adjacent building operated by the University of North Carolina, or on the NCSU main campus at Raleigh. Such facilities include controlled environment growth chambers, pilot food processing equipment, near infrared spectrophotometer. Statistical design and methods of data analysis For large data sets with genotype only, a general linear means model will be used with mean separation tests such as LSD or Bonferroni. For data sets having genotype x environment components, a proc mixed model will be used and mean separations made using a robust analysis, such as that suggested for GXE studies in broccoli by Brown et al. (1999). In experiments where sensory components will be compared, principal component analysis will be used and consultation with an NCSU statistician will be done to interpret results.

Progress 10/01/17 to 09/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences include other scientists, specialty crop growers, extension agents and specialists involved in horticulture, and students including K-12, college undergraduate and graduate levels Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Protocols developed in studies have been used to train graduate students. Translation of results and scientific approach have been used to train K-12 students in a 'scientist for a day' program with the local school system. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been published and presented at academic and extension/grower conferences. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?this is the final year of the current hatch project.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1. Near infrared spectrometry formulas were built for use in screening muscadine grape, blueberry, and strawberry for total anthocyanin content, total soluble solids content, and individual sugars. For strawberry additional models were developed for the primary pigment, pelargonidin 3-glucoside and for hue and chroma. These formulas were developed by using wet chemistry to measure precise amounts of compounds using high performance liquid chromatography and portable colorimeters, with a minimum of 100 samples. 2. Methods for screening quality of fruits are being used for other disciplines (such as effects of weed pressure on quality of blackberries or strawberries or of phosphorous levels and redness of ornamental plants) were taught to the graduate students working in this area. These methods included total anthocyanin, total phenolics, titratable acidity, total soluble solids, and betain content. Screening of tomato fruit for high lycopene content and correlation to rna content was done with a graduate student working in molecular mapping. 3. Measurement of vitamin C across strawberry genotypes and with storage was done to provide growers with an idea of the relative vitamin C content in locally grown fruit and its stability. Vitamin C was found to vary among cultivars from 30 to 55 mg/100 g fresh weight and stability appears to depend on genotype as well, with content after 7 days storage at 4 C ranging from 60 to 90% of original values.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Siddiq, M., K. Dolan, P. Perkins-Veazie, J.K. Collins. 2018. Effect of pectinolytic and cellulytic enzymes on the physical, chemical, and antioxidant properties of blueberry juice. LWT International 92:127-132.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Vinson, E.L. Coneva, E.D., Kemble, J.M., Woods, F.M., Sibley, J.L, Fonsah, E.G., Perkins-Veazie, P. 2018. Prediction of flower emergence and evaluation of cropping potential in selected banana cultivars (musa sp.) cultivated in subtropical conditions of coastal Alabama HortScience 53 (11), 1634-1639.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Suchoff, D.H., Perkins-Veazie, P., Sederoff, H.W., Schultheis, J.R., Gunter, C. 2018. Grafting the indeterminate tomato cultivar Moneymaker onto Multifort rootstock improves cold tolerance HortScience 53 (11), 1610-1617.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Bertucci, M.B., Jennings, K.M., Monks, D.W., Schultheis, J.R., Perkins-Veazie, P. 2018. early season growth, yield, and fruit quality of standard and mini watermelon grafted onto several commercially available cucurbit rootstocks HortTechnology 28 (4), 459-469.
• Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Perkins-Veazie, P. 2017. Postharvest storage and transport of blackberries. In: Blackberries and their Hybrids, CAB Intl, pp. 266-282.

Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences include other scientists, specialty crop growers, extension agents and specialists involved in horticulture, and students including K-12, college undergraduate and graduate levels. Changes/Problems:nothing to report What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Project has provided scientific training in experimental design, collection of data, analysis and presentation, and scientific thinking for 4 masters students, 2 doctoral students, 2 undergraduate students and 3 interns from high school. Extension training of county agents from NC, SC, VA, and GA was done on postharvest approaches for small fruits and vegetables and food safety aspects of postharvest. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Presentations have been made to grower groups and other scientists at professional meetings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In the next reporting period, postharvest studies on blackberry quality following night harvest will be done to see if use of night harvest can provide better fruit storage life and alleviate worker heat exhaustion. Differences in fresh market strawberry quality will be followed using selections from multiple breeding projects to determine if germplasm from certain programs is better suited for new variety development for NC conditions, or has cultivars that will be adaptable for NC growers. Application of near infrared spectroscopy will be tested on strawberry to determine if it can effectively separate strawberry groups for firmness, dry weight, and compositional differences (anthocyanin, sugars, soluble solids content).

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1. Muscadine grape cultivars were tested for fresh market storage life. Approach: Fruit of 6 bronze and purple fruited cultivars were collected from muscadines bred for fresh market and stored for 0 to 8 weeks at 4 C. Subsamples were used to determine weight loss, ratings, and fruit composition. Key outcomes: The shelf life of the 6 cultivars tested was 4 to 8 weeks, compared to earlier estimates of a 2-3 week shelf life. Primary losses of quality were blackening of stem scar, softness, leak, and shrivel and browning of some of the bronze type cultivars. Fruit pH and soluble solids content (SSC) changed little with storage. Total anthocyanin and total phenolic content did not generally increase with storage. Results indicate that muscadine grapesbred for fresh market may have a standard 4 to 6 week shelf life if harvested at SSC of 14-15%, harvested by hand directly into plastic clamshell containers, and field heat removed promptly. Differences in shelf life are still highly dependent on cultivar, and continued breeding for longer shelf life muscadines is needed. 2. Butternut squash was found to be a good niche crop for North Carolina and can be grown in mountain, piedmont, and coastal areas. The objective of this work was to test how storage affected carotenoid content and quality of 15-20 butternut cultivars. Approach: Butternut squash representing individual size (small), fresh market (medium) and processing (large) genotypes were harvested from multiple locations, and kept at 13-16C at 0,5, and 9 weeks. Weight loss, soluble solids content (SSC), and carotenoid changes were followed. Outcome: Vitamin A content increased 3-5 fold between 0 and 5 weeks of storage and total amount of vitamin A (beta and alpha carotene) depended on type and cultivar. SSC doubled at 5 weeks storage and changed only slightly at 9 weeks storage, representing the breakdown of starch to sugars. Recommended shelf life for butternut grown in NC and held at 13-16C is 4-5 weeks.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Evans, S.F. Beebe, M, Mahmood, M, Janthachotikun,S, Eldoumi H, Peterson, S, Payton,M, Penelope Perkins-Veazie, P, Smith, BJ, Lucas, E Mango Supplementation Has No Effects on Inflammatory Mediators in Obese Adults Publisher Nutrition and metabolic insights 10:1-11
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Basinger, N., Jennings, K., Monks, D., Mitcham, W., Perkins-Veazie, P., Chaudhari, S. In-row Vegetation-free Strip Width Effect on Established Navaho Blackberry Page Number(s) 1-5 DOI doi:10.1017/wet.2017.85
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Wehner, T., R. Naegele, P. Perkins-Veazie.Heritability and genetic variance components associated with citrulline, arginine, and lycopene content in diverse watermelon cultigens. Hortscience 52:936-940
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Perkins-Veazie, P., Ma, G., Werner, D. Anthocyanin Pigments in Redbud (Cercis spp) Flowers.The scientific pages of horticulture. 1:13-18.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: O'Hara, C., Ojo, B., Emerson, S.R., Simenson, A.J., Peterson, S., Perkins-Veazie, P., Payton, M., Hermann, J., Smith, B.J., Lucas, E. 2017.The effects of acute freeze dried mango consumption with a high fat meal on post prandial metabolism, inflammation and oxidative stress. British Journal of Nutrition
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Hartman, J. Investigating Citrulline in Cucurbits: A Survey of Cucurbitaceae and Heritability Estimations in Watermelon. MS theseis

Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences include growers, extension specialists and agents, consumers, K-12, and other scientists. These targets were reached through direct grower contact, providing information to commodity boards, extension training events, and participation in STEM learning events, in addition to publications and presentations for scientific audiences. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This project has provided scientific training in the collection and organization of data, logistics of scietific approach, presentation and analysis of data, and scientific thinking for 3 doctoral students, 3 masters students, and 2 undergraduate students. Students have learned methods and utilized these for their own projects and publications. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Presentations have been made to various types of groups, such as grower conferences, scientific professional meetings, extension agents, master gardners, K-12 students and consumers. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In the next reporting period, postharvest studies to further extend muscadine shelf life will be done in order to achieve a 6 to 8 week storage life. Studies on strawberry and blackberry will be done to evaluate new varieties and new harvest technologies on shelf life.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1. A rapid method for citrulline quantification from melons and watermelons was perfected and applied to a large breeding project with watermelons and melons to look for inheritance of this amino acid in Cucurbitacea. A range of citrulline values were found, from almost none in melons, to 700 mg per kg in some watermelon accessions. Key outcome: This information is being used to determine the inheritance pattern for citrulline in watermelon with the idea that citrulline, an effective vasodilator in humans, can be increased and improve watermelon as a source of this bioactive compound. Butternut squash was found to be high in vitamin A value, tripling in value following 3-5 weeks of storage. Additionally, a rapid means of estimating the carotenoids that provide pro-retinol vitamin A was verified, utilizing simple colorimeter measurements. Key outcome: This offers a means for breeders to screen 1000 or more squash for carotenoids in a few hours rather than 6 to 12 months. Objective 3. Muscadine grape shelf life was determined in new fresh market varieties and found to consistently be from 2 to 4 weeks, effectively double that initially found in older muscadine varieties. Key outcome: This opens up new markets that require longer shipping and storage periods for muscadine grape growers.

Publications

• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Postharvest quality of vegetables after application of essential oils as innovative sanitizers
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Studies of Linkage Mapping, Trait Heritability, and Pedigrees for Breeding Improvement of Southeastern Black and Red Raspberry
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Assessment of commercial fruit crop potential of selected banana (Musa sp.) cultivars in the subtropics of coastal Alabama
• Type: Book Chapters Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Postharvest Harvest, Storage and Transport of Blackberries
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Shanely, R.A., D.C. Nieman, P. Perkins-Veazie, D.A. Henson, M. P. Meaney, A.M. Knab and L. Cialdell-Kam. 2016. Comparison of watermelon and carbohydrate beverage on exercise-induced alterations in systemic inflammation, immune dysfunction, and plasma antioxidant capacity. Nutrients 8:518-528.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Ojo,B., El-Rassi, G.D., Perkins-Veazie, P., Clarke, S., Smith, B.J. and E. A. Lucas Mango Supplementation Prevents Gut Microbial Dysbiosis and Modulates Short Chain Fatty Acid Production Independent of Body Weight Reduction in C57BL/6 Mice Fed a High Fat Diet. J. Nutrition 146:1483-1491.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Perkins-Veazie, P., Pattison, J., Fernandez, G., Ma, G. Fruit Quality and Composition of North Carolina Strawberry Selections. Intl. J. Fruit Sci. 16:220-227

Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences include other scientists, specialty crop growers, extension agents and specialists involved in horticulture, and students including K-12, college undergraduate and graduate levels. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Project has provided scientific training in collection of data, presentation and analysis, and scientific thinking for2 doctoral students and 2 masters students and for 4 undergraduate students. Results were presented to grower groups, agricultural professionals, scientists. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Presentations have been made to grower groups and to other scientists at professional meetings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In the next reporting period, postharvest studies on butternut squash, a specialty cropsuccessful in NC, will be done to address grower specific questions including the following: does squash need to be cured and for how long; what are the changes in squash composition over storage time and what is the recommended storage time and temperature; what is the vitamin A content range among squash cultivars.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1. A method was developed and tested to determine potential browning in muscadine fruit juices. Approach: Samples were screened by heating peel for 1 h at 85C and determining total anthocyanin content. The amount of pigment lost was then correlated with the pigment profile. Pigment profilesof 120 selections from three major muscadine breeding programs to determine anthocyanin content in muscadine grapes using high performance liquid chromatography. Key outcomes: It was discovered that breeders have been able to successfully change pigment ratios in muscadine to favor those pigments that have slower rates of browning. 2. Grafted seedless watermelon fruit were followed to determine relative shelf life after harvest. Approach: Watermleons were harvested ripe then held for 0, 7, or 14 days at 13 C. Firmness of fruit flesh was measured with a firmtester specifically designed for this use, and total solids, pH, lycopene, and citrulline determined. Summary: Grafted fruit were found to have much firmer flesh and generally more lycopene but less citrulline when the rootstock was an interspecific hybrid of squashes. The fruit pH increased over storage time while total solids content remained similar among grafted and not grafted and with storage time. Key outcomes: For seedless watermelon, use of an interspecific hybrid rootstock consistently increases and maintains flesh firmness, even as fruit flesh continues to ripen (as measured by pH). Lycopene content may also be enhanced, but citrulline, an amino acid that has vasodilation properties in humans, is usually decreased in grafted fruit. Citrulline is a water soluble component while lycopene is usually associated with the solids part and is fat soluble. Firmer fruited watermelons may thus contain less total liquid with resulting less citrulline.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Vinson, E.L., Coneva, E.D., Kemble, J.M., Woods, F.M., Fonsha, E.G., Perkins-Veazie, P.M. and J.L. Sibley. 2015. Investigations on phonological responses to determine banana fruit production in the coastal regions of Alabama. J. American Pomological Society. 69:164-168.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Sadji, M., Perkins-Veazie, P., Ndiaye, N.F., Traore, D., Ma, G, Zongo, C., Traore, Y., Sall, M.D., and Traore, A. Enhanced L-citrulline in parboiled paddy rice with watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) juice for preventing sarcopenia: a preliminary study. African J. Food Sci. 9:508-513.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Kim, M.J., P. Perkins-Veazie, G. Ma, G. Fernandez. 2015. Shelf life and changes in phenolic compounds of organically grown blackberries during refrigerated storage. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 110:257-263.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Bradish, C.M. Yousef, G. G., Ma, G. Y., Perkins-Veazie, P., Fernandez, G. E. 2015. Anthocyanin, carotenoid, tocopherol, and ellagitannin content of red raspberry cultivars grown under field or high tunnel cultivation in the Southeastern United States. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 140:163-171
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Jiang, C., Perkins-Veazie, P., Blankenship, S.M., Boyette, M.D., Pesi-VanEsbroec, Z., Jennings, K.M., Schultheis, J.R. 2015. Occurrence, severity and induction of internal necrosis in Covington sweetpotato. HortTechnology 25:340-348
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Panthee, D.R., Perkins-Veazie, P., Anderson, C., Ibrahem, R. 2015. Diallel analysis for lycopene content in the hybrids derived from different colored parents in tomato. Amer. J. Plant Sci. 6:1483-1492.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Brown, A.F., Yousef, G.G, Guzman, I., Chebroulu, K.K, Werner, D.J., Parker, M., Gasic, K. and Perkins-Veazie, P. 2014. Variation of carotenoids and polyphenolics in peach and implications on breeding for modified phytochemical profiles. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 139:1-11.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Evans, S.F., Meister, M., Mahmood, M., Eldoumi, H., Peterson, S., Perkins-Veazie, P., Clarke, S.L, Payton, M. Smith, B.J., and Lucas, E.A. 2014. Mango supplementation improves blood glucose in obese individuals. Libertas Academica http://www.la- press.com
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Thomas, A., Perkins-Veazie, P., Byers, P. L., Finn, C.E., Lee, J.M. 2013. A comparison of fruit characteristics among diverse elderberry genotypes grown in Missouri and Oregon. J. Berry Research 3(3):159-168
• Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Ducharme, D., Chapman, B., Levine, K., Perkins-Veazie, P. 2015. Strawberry-specific infographs for Pick-Your-Own Consumer Food Safety (8 total). (https://ncfreshproducesafety.ces.ncsu.edu/ncfreshproducesafety-good-agricultural- practices/ncfreshproducesafety-commodity-specific-guidance/ncfreshproducesafety-fruits/strawberry-notebook/).

Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: undergraduate and K-12 students; specialty crop growers; extension agents and specialists involved in horticulture; scientists Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Presentation of results to growers groups Engagement of undergraduates in collection of data and training of scientific method How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Undergraduates were assigned projects in specific aspects of the overall project in order to gain training in scientific method, data collection, analysis and interpretation of results, preparation of presentations, and public speaking What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? In the next reporting period, adaptation of research by growers, specifically to improve shelf life of locally grown fruit, will be emphasized. Additional studies on fruit composition will be pursued in order to better understand genetic and environmental influences on fruit phytochemical content.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Refine and/or establish methods and techniques that can be standardized for use by fruit and vegetable breeders for screening of internal and external quality attributes specific to their crops, including firmness, anthocyanins, leak. 1. Major activities completed/experiments conducted: Fresh market raspberries and muscadine grapes were selected as the most important crops to develop methods of postharvest evaluation as these are high value crops. A subjective rating system was developed and captured digitally then placed on awebsite portal so that others could see how to do ratings easily and effectively, especially breeders and growers. Additionally, conditions for sampling, such as number of fruit, sample dates, storage temperatures and packaging systems were developed for each fruit to give best replication. 2. data collected: Data on a number of varieties and selections of small fruits was collected each year for postharvest ratings and composition of fruit. This data included subjective ratings, quantitative measures of frimness, and analysis of fruits for changes in pH acidity, soluble solids content, total anthocyanin, and phenolic content. When relevant, further detailed analysis of pigments and types of phenolics was done using high pressure liquid chromatography. 3. Summary statistics and discussion of results: Data were subjected to general linear means analysis to for statistical separation of treatments. Results were used to determine the storage temperature, sample sizes and subjectiv ratings most useful for rapid screening of large amounts of germplasm. 4. Key outcomes or other accomplishments realized: Screening methods for muscadine postharvest life have been incorporated into one breeder's program. Documentation of a storage problem (chill injury) with muscadines was obtained, which will be critical for growers in developing storage systems.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Fernandez, G., Ballington, J., and Perkins-Veazie, P. 2013. Von thornless blackberry. Hortscience 48:654-656.