Winter Haven, Florida Site Logo
ARS Home About Us Helptop nav spacerContact Us En Espanoltop nav spacer
Printable VersionPrintable Version E-mail this pageE-mail this page
Agricultural Research Service United States Department of Agriculture
Search
  Advanced Search
 
Programs and Projects
Subjects of Investigation
 

Research Project: Developing Best Postharvest Handling Practices to Assure Canker-Free Fruit Exports

Location: Winter Haven, Florida

2009 Annual Report


1a.Objectives (from AD-416)
To establish methods to ascertain that asymptomatic fruit leaving the packinghouse for market will be free of viable cells of the bacterium that causes citrus canker (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv citri). These methods will insure that bacteria established in small wounds and abrasions will not be able to cause disease when transferred to different localities.


1b.Approach (from AD-416)
Studies will be undertaken using wounded inoculated fruit to better understand the capabilities of the pathogen to survive certain sanitation and treatment protocols. Should the pathogen survive packingline sanitation in wounds, a further antimicrobial treatment would insure no viable cells leave the packinghouse. Compounds will be screened using novel methods for their abilities to reduce or eliminate growth of Xanthomonas. These will be done on a continuing basis: antimicrobial compounds will be screened and compatible coatings found that will act as a carrier for them. These measures will be combined with sanitizers to form a system that will be consistently effective in reducing the occurrence of viable bacterial cells in the ready-to-ship product. The most efficient method in the laboratory setting will be scaled up to packinglines and tested for efficiency on inoculated and un-inoculated asymptomatic injured and non-injured fruit.


3.Progress Report
This report documents research conducted under a Reimbursable Agreement between ARS and the INDIAN RIVER CITRUS LEAGUE. Additional details for the research can be found in the report for the parent project 6621-43000-001-00D, ENHANCEMENT OF THE QUALITY AND MICROBIAL STABILITY OF FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES WITH EDIBLE COATINGS AND OTHER SURFACE TREATMENTS

This project is related to Objective 1 of this in-house project: To develop new uses for coatings to preserve quality of fresh produce.

Florida’s fresh citrus industry had been hurt by a quarantine prohibiting the shipment of citrus fruit to any citrus producing states. For states where minimal shipping is allowed, there is a costly set of rules that packers must obey to be in compliance to ship. The restriction for shipping is the result of living bacterial cells found on fruit that had been processed through a packingline. The possibility remains, however small, that bacterial cells will be carried on the fruit and escape, causing outbreaks of this disease in places where it has not yet reached. This study involves testing compounds that will eliminate any bacteria still viable in wounds or biofilms on the surface of the fruit. Compounds being tested are essential oils and by-products from citrus and other natural sources. Our preliminary data shows that some essential oils are active against this bacterium. We are experimenting with vehicles to carry these antimicrobial compounds onto the fruit and make them compatible with the packingline. Application of this antimicrobial to the fruit will insure that there are no viable bacterial cells leaving the packinghouse. This research has resulted in a publication on a new method to screen antimicrobials. This is an ongoing study.

Monitoring: Progress is monitored by e-mail and phone calls.


   

 
Project Team
NARCISO, JAN
 
Project Annual Reports
  FY 2010
  FY 2009
 
Related National Programs
  Quality and Utilization of Agricultural Products (306)
 
 
Last Modified: 08/31/2011
ARS Home | USDA.gov | Site Map | Policies and Links 
FOIA | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Nondiscrimination Statement | Information Quality | USA.gov | White House