Progress 09/01/18 to 08/31/21
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this project is first and foremost, Northeastern organic growers and storage operators. Even though growing organic fruit in the eastern environment is difficult in comparison with desert-like environments in Washington State, growers here are increasingly exploring expansion of organic production. There are notable examples such as the largest orchard in the east (Fowler Brothers), which is transitioning blocks over to organic. While this project is forward focused because of the limited organic production in the east, the results provide confidence that non-chemical postharvest technologies can provide storage performance that is equivalent to that currently obtained with postharvest chemical use. This is critical to ensure that organic growers and storage operators are not disadvantaged in the marketplace. The second audience is the national organic community including the Washington State industry. The third audience, although not a formal one within the context of the Organic Transitions program, is Northeastern conventional growers and storage operators as we can provide a means of eliminating all postharvest chemical usage. Northeastern growers are well aware of the increasing need to address consumer demands for organic fruit, but also they are concerned about the long term future of postharvest chemicalregistration, and recognize that postharvest drenching represents a food safety hazard. Last but not least, are the consumers, who are increasingly concerned about the use of postharvest chemicals. Changes/Problems:Year 2, originally the final year of this project, was affected by COVID-19. Although a complete study of the physiological fruit responses to CA and DCA was completed as planned, of the three cultivars harvested that year, only two cultivars were subjected to sensory analysis and volatile measurement (4.5 months) because of the shutdown of facilities that involved interaction with panelists. Following a no-cost extension by NIFA, research on the three cultivars was reported in full, plus an additional cultivar (Honeycrisp) for which a high incidence of physiological disorders was encountered in year 1. The sample sizes for sensory analysis were limited slightly due to building density requirements, although not to a degree that would put inferences in any doubt. Overall, the expectations of the project, namely the effects of DCA storage on three organic cultivars for each of the two years was met in full. However, the second objective of this project that concerns dissemination of the results of this project has been delayed. First, because results from the 2020 harvest season have only recently been completed given the 9-month storage season and subsequent volatile analyses, extension of this research to the grower community is only now being initiated. Also, the NOFA meeting (January 2022) in which interactive participation of the organic community was expected has been limited by an ongoing virtual format. Most emphasis, therefore, will be on written formats. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Presentations to grower audiences. 2019Organic Apple Field Day. Cornell Orchards. Ithaca, NY. 1 Aug. 'The potential of dynamic controlled atmosphere storage for the eastern organic apple industry. 2022 New York State Fruit School, Zoom, January 18. Dynamic controlled atmosphere (DCA) for storage of organic and traditional apple varieties. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Through one organic field day, and now that the project is completed through Fruit Schools, a popular article and two papers in refereed scientific journals (in preparation). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The overall approach taken in this project was to access organically grown fruit from New York orchard. Fruit of six cultivars were accessed from two major orchards, the first focusing on disease-resistant traditional organic cultivars, and the second from a large-scale operation where they have transitioned blocks of several mainstream cultivars such as Golden Delicious, Jonagold, Fuji and Honeycrisp to organic growing systems. The effects of dynamic controlled atmosphere (DCA) and controlled atmosphere (CA) storage were investigated, with the non-organic, but widely used inhibitor of ethylene production, 1-methycyclopropene (1-MCP), being used as a comparison for effects on post-storage quality. In year 1, two disease resistant cultivars (Gold Rush and Enterprise) and a mainstream cultivar (Honeycrisp) after storage for 4.5 and 9 months were investigated. Sensory and volatile analyses were completed in full for Gold Rush and Enterprise but restricted to only one analysis time (6 months) for Honeycrisp because of unacceptable incidences of physiological storage disorders. In year 2, Golden Delicious, Jonagold and Fuji were stored for 6 and 9 months and quality assessments made in full. However, COVID-19 restrictions limited sensory analyses and volatile assessments of Golden Delicious and Jonagold to 6 months only, with no sensory evaluation of Fuji (see section on changes). In year 3, full analyses of Golden Delicious, Jonagold and Fuji were carried out. In addition, we repeated work with Honeycrisp given the issues of disorders encountered in year 1. In terms of fruit quality, the results vary by cultivar type. Two groups of response were identified. First, for those cultivars (Gold Rush, Enterprise, and Honeycrisp) that ripen very little after harvest, e.g., limited loss of texture and softening, few effects on firmness, soluble solids contents, titratable acidity and background color were detected, even when ethylene production was inhibited. Second, Golden Delicious and Jonagold, and to a lesser extent, Fuji, softened after CA storage. Although the residual effect of DCA on slowing softening was not as marked at 1-MCP, the residual effect of DCA resulted in a firmer apple than that found for CA storage alone. The comparison of CA/DCA, with and without 1-MCP are being written up for publication in a refereed publication and in a grower magazine (Fruit Quarterly) A major part of this project was the multidisciplinary approach taken to integrate physiological data with sensory and volatile production by fruit. In contrast with the results above, we took the approach of examining all aspects on a specific time after removal from storage (day 4). Different cultivars produce different volatile profiles with ripening and, consequently, are impacted differentially. DCA influence on volatile production followed established patterns where lower oxygen levels led to diminished alcohol, ester, ketone, and sesquiterpene production. Likewise, when tested 1-MCP reduced production of these classes of volatiles alone or additively with reduced O2. Aldehyde levels were differentially influenced with trans-2-hexenal and cis-3-hexenal levels remaining higher in apples stored in lower oxygen storage environments for most cultivars. Some cultivars, primarily Honeycrisp and Fuji, produced elevated levels of ethanol and derived esters when stored at or following removal from storage under the lowest oxygen atmospheres. Differing cultivars also produced different patterns of liking with storage, with Jonagold and Golden Delicious being more vulnerable to decreases in liking with CA storage, when compared to either DCA or treatment with 1-MCP, which appeared on the whole to produce similar levels of liking after prolonged periods of storage. Decreases in liking were less prominent at the first removal time than the second longer one, as would be expected. Storage condition was a significant effect in the models measuring overall liking, appearance liking, texture liking, aroma liking and mealiness, with CA storage scoring the least favorably in most cases, and texture liking and mealiness rating (although logically correlated) showing the strongest effect. Interaction effects between storage condition and cultivar were also significant effects in all cases above, indicative of differential effects by cultivar. One notable exception was in aroma liking, where CA scored higher than DCA, and may be illustrative of volatile production patterns. Our ongoing analyses are focused on asking questions such as does aroma really have any impact on product preferences by the average consumer, and in relation to acidity and firmness. The results have met the first objectiveof the project; to develop application of DCA storage technology to address long term storage needs of Northeastern organic growers by defining the tolerances to low O2of selected cultivars byproviding confidence in the technology by the organic apple industry.Tolerances to low oxygen have been identified, while also revealing limitations for cultivars that are particularly susceptible to storage disorders. The results have also revealed that DCA storage is not necessarily an advantage for cultivars that maintain fruit quality through extended storage periods. The second objective focused is focused on translation of research-based information to the grower and storage operator community using a variety of extension methodologies - written (print and digital), formal extension programs such as workshops that are designed to measure impact, interaction with non-traditional audiences, and one-on-one discussion with storage operators and cooperative members. This objective has not yet been met because results from the 2020 harvest season have only recently been completed given the 9-month storage season and subsequent volatile analyses. Therefore, extension of this research to the grower community is only now being initiated. Because of the limitations of virtual formats in prime extension vehicles such as the NOFA meetings most emphasis is on providing translation via written formats. Third, the informal objective of extending this knowledge to Northeastern conventional growers and storage operators with the objective of eliminating all postharvest chemical usage will be shared at the upcoming Fruit Schools in New York early in 2022. The demand for information about DCA is emerging rapidly, and the research funded by this program is serving as powerful resource for northeastern growers.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Al Shoffe, Y, Rudell, D.R., Dando, R., Park, D.S., Watkins, C.B. Dynamic controlled atmosphere (DCA) for storage of Eastern organically grown apple cultivars. HortScience
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Al Shoffe, Y, Rudell, D.R., Dando, R., Park, D.S., Watkins, C.B. Fruit quality and volatile production effects on sensory of organically-grown apple cultivars. Postharvest Biology and Technology
- Type:
Other
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Al Shoffe, Y, Rudell, D.R., Dando, R., Park, D.S., Watkins, C.B. Maintaining quality of organically-grown apple varieties with dynamic controlled atmosphere (DCA) storage. Fruit Quarterly 30 (1) Spring 2022.
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Progress 09/01/18 to 08/31/19
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiences have been of two major types: The first is the organic industry, and the second is the wider apple industry across the state and beyond. The first group were reached at an Organic Summer Field Day in Ithaca on August 1, 2019. A 30 minute presentation was given by Watkins providing an overview of the technology and results to date. The second outreach was the Cornell Storage Workshop in Ithaca on August 8, 2019. Data from the project was presented within the context of dynamic controlled atmosphere storage. Members of the Advisory Committee were present at both outreach opportunities. Changes/Problems:We encountered unexpected levels of flesh browning in two cultivars that may have related to harvest maturity - organic growers are largely focused on harvest of more mature fruit than might be expected for longer term storage. For Honeycrisp, the browning problems were esepecially severe despite the standardconditioning treatment. It was possible to grade the fruit out for sensory analysesfor 4.5 months of storage, but the incidencewas too high at 9 months. Consequently sensory and volatile asessments were not carried out for Honeycrisp apples at this removal time. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?1. Organic grower presentation. 2. Cornell Storage Workshop. Both were focused primarily on providing background understanding of the technology. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Two delivery sessionsto date (see above). The project relies on the combination of data obtained over both years. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Three different cultivarswill be harvested and treated in the same manner as in year 1.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Honeycrisp, Enterprise and Gold Rush apples were harvested from organic orchard blocks in western New York during September and October of 2019. Fruit were cooled (with conditioning in the case of Honeycrisp), and low oxygen atmospheres (normal controlled atmosphere storage and dynamic controlled atmospheres) for 4.5 and 9 months. Oxygen concentrations were checked daily. Fruit quality was assessed after removal of fruit from storage on days 1, 4 and 7. Fruit from day 4 were used for sensory analyses and juice preparation for measurement of aroma volatiles. Sensory testing of apples was conducted across 5 sensory testing sessions, with panels of 104-111 apple consumers (54-74% female; primarily 18-34), with a range of apple consumption habits, but all identifying as apple consumers. Sensory data were analyzed with linear mixed models, with panelist and panelist*session as random effects. Models were built for overall liking, as well as texture liking, appearance liking, flavor liking and aroma liking. Samples were analyzed as a single central model, and as 2 separate sets of models, with Honeycrisp analyzed alone due to the lack of a 9 month time point, and Enterprise and Gold Rush in a second model, with storage time as a fixed effect. Other fixed effects in the models were atmosphere, MCP, storage day, and cultivar in the second set of models, as well as all 2-way interactions between factors, aside from MCP*atmosphere, due to the sample setup. Effects were deemed significant at p < 0.05, however terms were still included in the model at p < 0.1, to control for added variance arising from the factor in the models. Honeycrisp apples were clearly the most highly liked, significantly more than either Enterprise or Gold Rush, however no statistical difference in overall liking was observed between Enterprise and Gold Rush. For both the Honeycrisp model, and the model developed for Enterprise and Gold Rush, controlled atmosphere storage resulted in slightly higher overall liking scores than dynamic controlled atmosphere, though differences were small. The length of delay between picking and the fruit going into storage did not affect liking scores across either model. Honeycrisp samples not treated with MCP were rated slightly higher in overall liking than those treated, however their appearance was liked slightly more when treated. Differences in overall liking were likely explained by higher texture and aroma liking when not treated with MCP. MCP treatment also seemed to negatively affect aroma liking in Enterprise and Gold Rush apples. No significant changes were observed for Enterprise or Gold Rush with MCP in either overall or appearance liking. Frozen apple juice samples were freighted to Wenatchee, Washington, where they were stored. They were then thawed and aliquoted into 20 mL headspace vials containing 0.5 mL saturated NaCl solution and ISTD and maintained in liquid N2. Samples were sealed and, then, thawed, incubated in a 30 C ultrasonic bath, and analyzed using the protocol outlined by Serra et al. (2018). External standards for aroma metabolites were analyzed for comparison with samples. Instrumental analysis was completed and data are in process to produce our comparative results.
Publications
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