S294 QUALITY & SAFETY OF FRESH-CUT VEGETABLES AND FRUITS MULTISTATE RESEARCH PROJECT

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1016182
• Project Start Date: Aug 14, 2018
• Project End Date: Sep 30, 2022
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
AUBURN UNIVERSITY
108 M. WHITE SMITH HALL
AUBURN,AL 36849

Performing Department
Horticulture

Non Technical Summary
According to the Produce Marketing Association (PMA, 2014), the U.S. market for fresh-cut vegetables and fruits is estimated at $27 billion annually.Postharvest losses of fresh-cut produce are difficult to estimate but given the highly perishable nature of fresh-cuts compared to intact produce, the retail value of fresh-cut produce losses and wastage at all levels may exceed $9-10 billion annually. The appearance, convenience, and generally high nutritive value of fresh-cut vegetables and fruits drive sales of fresh produce, but repeat sales of fresh-cuts is dependent upon assurance of its safety and the products having pleasing texture and flavor.The industry primarily relies on established technologies derived mainly from practical experience to maintain visual quality and shelf-life with less consideration of the quality characteristics that drive repeat sales such as good flavor retention, maintenance of an appealing texture (crispness, crunchiness), and increased microbial quality leading to extended shelf stability and food safety.We propose to develop research best-practice guidance and standardized methods for food safety risk assessments of fresh-cut product quality enhancing treatments or efficacy of interventions and disinfection measures. Data will be collected and analyzed for commercialization of technology for produce industry use. Information will be available to fresh-cut processors to assist in selection of optimal harvest maturity, processing procedures, handling and packaging conditions to best maintain fresh-cut product quality and safety. The fresh-cut industry will achieve considerable savings and consumers will benefit from increased availability of fresh-cut products with improved safety, sensory and nutritional value.

Animal Health Component

50%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

50%

Applied

50%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
503	1010	1010	25%
503	1060	1010	10%
503	1122	1010	25%
503	1120	1010	20%
503	1130	1010	10%
503	2239	1010	10%

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

Subject Of Investigation
1060 - Kiwi; 1120 - Blueberry; 1010 - Banana; 1122 - Strawberry; 2239 - Flavoring and beverage plants, general/other; 1130 - Table grapes;

Field Of Science
1010 - Nutrition and metabolism;

Keywords

fresh-cut

saftey

quality

nutrition and shelflife

Goals / Objectives
Objective 1. Evaluate methods of sampling and measuring flavor and nutrition of fresh and fresh-cut products to facilitate comparison to traditional shelf life factors.Objective 2. Develop new strategies to improve and better maintain inherent fresh-cut product quality and nutrition.Objective 3. Improve understanding of physiological mechanisms that affect fresh and fresh-cut product quality.Objective 4. Determine critical factors in controlled inoculation studies with human pathogens and surrogates that influence the outcome of quantitative microbial risk assessments.Objective 5. Development and validation of novel diagnostic methods to determine presence of human pathogens and chemical hazards associated with fresh and fresh-cut products*

Project Methods
1) In this project, we propose to compare methods currently used by project members for consumer and sensory panel testing of fresh-cut products and develop standard procedures. 2) We will conduct coordinated shelf life tests and develop standard procedures for measuring the shelf life of fresh-cut products in terms of retention of acceptable flavor versus physicochemical properties, including nutritionally important constituents.3) We will relate instrumental with sensory measurements of fresh-cut product quality using newly developed instruments and statistical techniques.4) We will work with public and private entities to identify germplasm with outstanding sensory quality.5) We will identify optimum initial (whole product) quality factors relating to improved flavor-based shelf life.Standardized sensory evaluation methods and objective methods of measuring color, texture, and composition of fresh-cut products will be proposed. Compositional measurements will include constituents related to flavor (sugars, organic acids, aroma volatiles) and nutritional value [ascorbic acid (vitamin C), carotenoids, polyphenols (flavonoids), and other antioxidant phytochemicals]. Potential methods will be discussed, agreed upon, and revisions made, and the procedures finalized and distributed within and outside the multistate project.

Progress 10/01/18 to 09/30/19

Outputs
Target Audience:Fresh-cut processors, fruit, vegetable and aquatic vegtable growers, home owners, extension specialists, county agents and research collaborators in related disciplines. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?· Served as Auburn University Representative for S294 Quality & Safety of Fresh-cut Vegetables and Fruits Multistate Research Project: Accession Number: 1016182: National Institute of Food and Agriculture. · In FY 2019, Dr. Woods was the secretary for the S294 project convened in Chicago, IL meeting (June 12, 2019). · In addition, Dr. Woods provided (2) presentation at a regional meetings. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Educational material pertaining to the project was disseminated via peer reviewed journals, abstracts and related grower convention meetings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Further investigations will be conducted during FY 2020 involving compositional measurements related to flavor (sugars, organic acids) and nutritional (functional food properties) and value of apple, banana, blackberry, blueberry, kiwifruit and strawberry fruit and vegetables sweetpotato and onions as related to consumer acceptance and demand of locally grown commodities. In addition, how these minimally processed fruits and vegetables may contribute to overall human health and well-being. Anticipated collaborative studies will be initiated with local organic producer for determination of cultivar choice of diverse vegetables destined for niche markets.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 3. Improve understanding of physiological mechanisms that affect fresh-cut product quality. Doctoral studies: Kargar Ph.D. project. Kargar, Mahnaz, *, Ph.D. 2019. Phytochemical and Nutritional Properties of Selected Banana (Musa spp.) Cultivated in Southeastern U.S. 127 pages. · Evaluated physiochemical properties and bioactive compounds of selected banana cultivars: Consumer demand, browning potential of fresh with intent to expand fresh-cut product. · M.S. project. R. Shi. Evaluated impact of hydroponic production of lettuce on lettuce quality with emphasis on secondary metabolism. · M.S. project. M. Xia. Evaluating impact of hydroponic production of lettuce using nutrient film technique, incidence of tipburn and phenolic content. · Determined physicochemical properties of selected blackberries cultivated in Alabama. · Determined edible film coating (of chitosan) effect on ripening of tomato. ·Determined the effect of cultivar, environment and cultivation season on phytochemical content of Alabama-grown Rabbiteye blueberries. · Collaboration with E. Vinson: Determined production potential of twelve strawberry cultivars suitable for Alabama climate. · Collaboration with J. Spiers: Determined the effect of fruit quality at harvest on postharvest longevity and consumer preference.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Kargar, M., F.M. Woods, J.R. Kessler, M.M. Wall, E. Vinson, E.G. Fonsah, and R. Jeganathan. 2019. Screening Underutilized banana for carotenoid content: consumer acceptance and potential health benefits. Journal of the American Pomological Society 73(4): 198-205.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Thomas-Popo, E., A. Mendonca, J. Dickson, A. Shaw, S. Coleman, A. Daraba, A. Jackson-Davis, and F. Woods. 2019. Isoeugenol significantly Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella enterica, and Listeria monocytogenes in refrigerated tyndallized pineapple juice with added Yucca schidigera extract. Food Control 106:106727.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Woods, F.M., A. Gebrekidan, E. Coneva, E. Vinson, K. Shetty, D. Sarkar, B.D. Blasius, and A. Caylor. 2019. Cultivar, environment and growing season effects on phytochemical properties of Alabama-grown Rabbiteye blueberries (Vaccinium ashei Reade). Presented at 83rd Annual Meeting Southern Region of American Society for Horticultural Science. SRASHS. Sheraton Hotel Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, February 1- 3, 2019. (Oral presentation).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Kargar, M., F.M. Woods, M.M. Wall, J.R. Kessler, E.G. Fonsah, E. Vinson, R.B. Jeganathan and N. Larsen. 2019. Physicochemical properties and bioactive compounds of selected banana cultivars (Musa spp.): Consumer demand and potential health benefits for diabetes. Presenting at 26th International Conference of Functional Food Center: Functional Foods, Bioactive Compounds and Nutraceuticals in Health and Disease, San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA, May 9-10, 2019.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Kargar, M., F.M. Woods, J. Pitts. 2019. Physicochemical properties of selected blackberries cultivated in Alabama. Presenting at 116th Annual American Society for Horticultural Science. ASHS Annual Meeting. The Tropicana Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, July 22  25, 2019. (Poster presentation).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: M. Kargar, F.M. Woods, M.M. Wall, J.R. Kessler, E.G. Fonsah, E. Vinson, R.B. Jeganathan and N. Larsen. Antioxidant activity of six different banana cultivars during ripening. Presenting at 116th Annual American Society for Horticultural Science. ASHS Annual Meeting. The Tropicana Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, July 22  25, 2019. (Oral presentation).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Kargar, M., F.M. Woods, M.M. Wall, J.R. Kessler, E.G. Fonsah, R.B. Jeganathan, and N. Larsen. 2019. Influence of ripening and cultivar on banana peel and pulp browning: The role of phenylanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and Lipoxygenase (LOX) enzymes. Presented at 83rd Annual Meeting Southern Region of American Society for Horticultural Science. SRASHS. Sheraton Hotel Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, February 1- 3, 2019. (Oral presentation).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Kargar, M., F.M. Woods, and J.E. Brown. 2019. Effect of chitosan coating on tomato fruit softening. Presented at 83rd Annual Meeting Southern Region of American Society for Horticultural Science. SRASHS. Sheraton Hotel Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, February 1- 3, 2019. (Poster presentation).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Shi, R., D.E. Wells, J.M. Pickens, F. Woods, and D. M. Blersch. 2019. Effect of root zone temperature on total phenolics of hydroponic lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. Rex) grown under full spectrum LED. Presented at 83rd Annual Meeting Southern Region of American Society for Horticultural Science. SRASHS. Sheraton Hotel Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, February 1- 3, 2019. (Poster presentation).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Xia, M., D. Wells, F. Woods, and J.M. Pickens. 2019. Effect of root zone chilling on growth and total phenolic content of romaine lettuce varieties grown using nutrient film technique. Presented at 83rd Annual Meeting Southern Region of American Society for Horticultural Science. SRASHS. Sheraton Hotel Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, February 1- 3, 2019. (Oral presentation).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Xia, M., D. Wells, F. Woods, and J.M. Pickens. 2019. Mitigating lettuce tipburn by increasing horizontal airflow rate in deep water culture system. Presented at 83rd Annual Meeting Southern Region of American Society for Horticultural Science. SRASHS. Sheraton Hotel Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, February 1- 3, 2019. (Oral presentation).
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Kargar Ph.D. project. Kargar, Mahnaz, *, Ph.D. 2019. Phytochemical and Nutritional Properties of Selected Banana (Musa spp.) Cultivated in Southeastern U.S. 127 pages.

Progress 08/14/18 to 09/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience:Fresh-cut processors, fruit, vegetable and aquatic vegtable growers, home owners, extension specialists, county agents and research collaborators in related disciplines. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Establishment of initial collaboration via southern regional and national meetings. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Educational material pertaining to the project was disseminated via peer reviewed journals, abstracts and related grower convention meetings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Further investigations will be conducted during FY 2019 involving compositional measurements related to flavor (sugars, organic acids) and nutritional value of apple, banana, blackberry, blueberry, kiwifruit and strawberry fruit as related to consumer acceptance and demand of locally grown commodities.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 2- Improve understanding of physiological mechanisms that affect fresh and fresh-cut product quality. Banana (Musa spp.) and rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei Reade) contain several bioactive compounds that have positive effects on human health. Many of these compounds possess antioxidant properties that protect against non-communicable chronic diseases (NCD) associated with oxidative stress. On-going research efforts entail identifying consumer preference, nutritional quality determinants that influence cultivar choice and shelflife of fresh and minimally processed banana and blueberry. Limited information is available concerning overall impact of environmental conditions, latitude and cultivar choice of non-Cavendish short cycle banana adaptable to southeastern U.S. Collaborative research effort between AL, FL, GA, HI and ND investigators are actively identifying underutilized nutrient enriched banana cultivars adaptable to Southeastern United States and destined for development of local niche market. At commercial level of production of developing niche market of short cycle banana, five cultivars were identified for subtropical environmental conditions along coastal Alabama. In parallel studies involving consumer sensory components (pH, titratable acidity, TA; soluble solid content SSC and TA/SSC ratio) of six banana cultivars and four genome and four ripening stages (mature green, transition, fully ripe and over ripe stages) were compared. The traditional Cavendish banana contained the highest SSC/TA when compared to non-Cavendish short cycle banana and ripening stages. With regard nutritional quality and consumer decision to purchase and repurchase fresh non-processed banana fruit, color and carotenoid content of banana peel and flesh is an important quality determinant. Five underutilized non-Cavendish short cycle banana were compared to traditional Cavendish banana. In comparison, all non-Cavendish peel and pulp tissue contained higher total carotenoid content. Results indicate tetraploid bananas contained higher total carotenoid content compared to triploid and therefore may be more suitable as a functional food source to minimize the risk of certain NCD. Blueberries contain one of the highest source of natural antioxidants among fruit that correlates with the ability to reduce certain NCD. Significant variation of antioxidant content and capacity are known to vary among cultivar, location and season. However, little information is available concerning AL familiar rabbiteye blueberry cultivars, environmental conditions and seasonal influence. Collaborative research effort between AL and ND investigators are actively identifying phenolic linked anti-diabetic properties of rabbiteye blueberry cultivars targeted for relevant human health traits adaptable to Southeastern United States and destined for development of local niche market. Five familiar cultivars of rabbiteye blueberry were cultivated from two opposing geographic locations (North and South) AL and two growing seasons. Vitamin C, phenolics antioxidant content and antioxidant capacity were determined. Approximately 80% of the variability was accounted for by total phenolic content regardless of cultivar choice or season. Within a particular season, location accounted for the greatest variability. Highest consumer nutritional quality traits among five cultivars of rabbiteye blueberry and antioxidant determinants occurred in northern location of AL. Highest anthocyanin content occurred in northern climate and therefore, may be the greatest contributing factor accounting for consumer visual selection and determinant. Collectively, these studies are designed to promote production and consumption of nutrient enriched underutilized banana and traditional but non- characterized health benefits of rabbiteye blueberry. Future studies will expand our knowledge and understanding of fresh and minimally processed banana and blueberry functional food properties.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2018 Citation: Kargar, M., F.M. Woods, M.M Wall, R.J. Kessler, E. Vinson III, E.G. Fonsah, R.B. Jeganathan and N. Larsen. 2019. Screening Underutilized Banana for Carotenoid Content: Consumer Acceptance and Potential Health Benefits. Journal of the American Pomological Society.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2018 Citation: Kargar, M., F.M. Woods, M.M. Wall, E.G. Fonsah, J.R. Kessler, K. Shetty, R.B. Jeganathan, N. Larsen. 2018. Influence of Maturity on Physicochemical Quality of Genomically Diverse Banana (Musa spp.) Cultivars. Presented at 82nd Annual Southern Region American Society for Horticultural Science. Jacksonville, FL., February 2-4, 2018. (Oral presentation).
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Vinson, III, E.L., E. D. Coneva, J.M. Kemble, F.M. Woods, J.L. Sibley, E.G. Fonsah, P. M. Perkins-Veazie, and J. R. Kessler. Prediction of flower emergence and evaluation of cropping potential in selected banana cultivars (Musa sp.) cultivated in subtropical conditions of Coastal Alabama. HortScience 53:1634-1639.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Kargar, M., F.M. Woods, K. Shetty, M.M. Wall, J.R. Kessler, E.G. Fonsah, R.B. Jeganathan, N. Larsen. 2018. Preliminary Study of Enzymatic Browning Susceptibility in Banana Peel and Pulp Tissues in Relation to Genotype and Ripening. Presented at 115th Annual American Society for Horticultural Science. ASHS Annual Meeting. Washington Hilton, Washington D.C., July 31-August 3, 2018. (Oral presentation)
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2018 Citation: Woods, F.M., A. Gebrekidan, E. Coneva, E. Vinson, K. Shetty, D. Sarkar, B.D. Blasius, and A. Caylor. Influence of cultivar, environment and growing season on phytochemical properties of Alabama- grown Rabbiteye blueberries (Vaccinium ashei Reade). 4th NDSU Annual Conference on Food for Health. NDSU. Radisson Hotel, Fargo, North Dakota, July 8-11, 2018. (Oral presentation).