WSU home Hort & LA Hort & LA
home curriculum vitae courses research graduate students committees publications and presentations andrewsp@wsu.edu  

 

Gregory Peck, M.S.
 Project description:

Grower and consumer interest in alternative farming systems, such as organic farming and integrated pest management, has grown widely over the past three decades. A growing body of research provides good evidence that many modern conventional farming systems use practices and materials that are harmful to the environment, farm workers, and consumers. However, consumer surveys show that many people purchase organics because they believe that organically grown produce has a greater nutritional value, not for the positive environmental impact. Past studies comparing organic and conventional produce have failed to clearly elucidate whether there is a nutritional advantage to purchasing organic produce. My research will shed light on this pertinent issue by investigating the antioxidant, phytonutrient, and vitamin content of the apples determining whether consumers receive a nutritional benefit for the additional cost of organic produce.

 

Carolina Torres, Ph.D.
Project description:

My research focuses on improving fruit quality by characterization of antioxidant systems in fruit. Improvements in the antioxidant capacity of fruit will affect not only the nutritional value of the product, but also many oxidative processes that affect fruit appearance and quality, and, therefore, the saleable value of the crop.

The most important problem, involving oxidative damage of the fruit surface, occurs when the crop is grown in climates of high light and temperatures (semi-arid climates), which are also desirable conditions for high quality fruit. One of these fruit disorders is called sunscald, and it is caused by sunlight-induced oxidation of the fruit skin while the fruit are on the tree. In apples, losses can reach up to 40% of total orchard production. There are many cultural practices that farmers use to reduce the problem but none of them are completely effective, and they are short-term solutions that will be insufficient in the future as climate change results in more weather extremes.

As a long-term solution, I have focused my research on determining which part of the antioxidant system plays the most important role in fruit that will allow a fruit crop to better tolerate extreme environmental conditions. By using different tomato mutants, I have found which antioxidant components could increase tolerance to high light and temperature stress, and I am now testing them under natural conditions.

Publications

  • Torres, C. P.K. Andrews. Photooxidative strees in fruit. Review. In press.
  • Torres, C. P.K. Andrews. Developmental Changes in Antioxidant Metabolites, Enzymes, and Pigments in Fruit Exocarp of Four Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) Genotypes: b-carotene, High Pigment-1, ripening inhibitor, and ‘Rutgers’. In press.
  • Torres del Campo, C. Antioxidant systems and photooxidative damage in different tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) genotypes. Thesis (M.S.)--Washington State University, 2001. 78p.
  • Torres, C. and P.K. Andrews. 2001. Antioxidants and antioxidant enzymes in the fruit peel of tomato mutants. HortScience 36:547.
  • Torres, C., R. Diaz and P.K. Andrews. 2001. Chile leads southern hemisphere in fruit exports. Good Fruit Grower 52(5): 36-39 (March 1).
  • Yuri, J.A., C. Torres, R. Bastías, A. Neira. 2000. Golpe de sol en manzanos. I. Incidencia, evaluación y métodos de control (SunShield, Vitamin E, Vapogard). Agro-Ciencia 16(1): 13-21.
  • Yuri, J.A., C. Torres, R. Bastías, A. Neira. 2000. Golpe de sol en manzanos. 2. Factores inductivos y respuestas biochímicas. Agro-Ciencia 16(1): 24-32.
  • Yuri, J. C. Torres and R. Bastías. 1998. Avances Recientes en Golpe de sol en Manzanos (Recent advances in sunburn in apples) Congreso Chileno de la manzana (Chilean congress in apple), Talca, Chile. 110p.
  • Retamales, J.B., C. Moggia, P. Banados, C. Torres, J.P. Zoffoli (Editors). 1998. Abstracts VIIth International Symposium on Pear Growing. International Society for Horticultural Science, Talca, Chile, 19-22 January, 70 p.
  • Yuri, J. and C. Torres. 1997. Pear production in Chile: Growing areas, cultivars, exports and profitability. ISHS Acta Horticulturae 475: VII International Symposium on Pear Growing.
  • Yuri, J., J. Retamales, C. Moggia, C. Torres, R. Díaz, J. Vásquez. 1996. Memoria 1994-1995 (Year Book 1994-1995). Centro de Pomáceas. Universidad de Talca. 120 p.
  • Torres, C. and Yuri, J.A. 1995. Efectos de la poda de verano y penetración de la radiación solar en el desarrollo de color en manzanos, cvs. Red King Oregon and Gala (Abstract). Simiente, 65 (1-3): 13.
  • Torres, C. 1995. Desarrollo de color y golpe de sol en manzanos, cv. Red King Oregon and Gala. Thesis Horticulture Enginnier (Ing.Agr). Universidad de Talca, Chile. 78 p.

Presentations and Posters

  • Yuri J.A., R. Bastías, C. Torres, J.B. Retamales. 2002. Sunburn on apples: Inducing factors, biochemical responses and control methods (Abstract). XXVIth International Horticultural Congress & Exhibition (IHC 2002), Toronto, Canada. Aug. 11-17, 2002, pg. 372.
  • Johnson, J., P.K. Andrews, Y. Yuan and C. Torres. Total antioxidant capacity in apple peel and its role in sunburn protection. 96th Annual Washington State Horticulture Association. Dec. 2000.
  • Torres, C., P. K. Andrews. Antioxidants and antioxidant enzymes in fruit peel of tomato mutants high pigment, Delta, rin, and b-carotene during development. American Society for Horticultural Science, Sacramento June 2001.
  

 

Gregory Peck
509-335-2774
gpeck@wsu.edu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carolina Torres
509-335-2774
ctorres@mail.wsu.edu