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<OL> <LI> To determine the role of, and genetically engineer, cell wall carbohydrate and membrane lipid enzymes that regulate fruit ripening to produce superior transgenic fruits and vegetables with improved quality that are amenable to fresh-cut processing. <LI> To determine the optimum maturity of fruits for fresh-cut processing and identify modified atmosphere packaging conditions for maintaining quality and safety of fresh-cut produce.
Various fruits of different maturity will be used for fresh-cut products & evaluated for quality. Fresh-cut fruits and vegetables of optimum maturity will be placed in various combinations of artificially-induced modified atmosphere packages and treatments and will be stored at various temperatures. Respiration rates, ethylene, quality, and microbial populations will be monitored. Fresh-cut products will be inoculated with human pathogens & their growth will be evaluated. Cell wall & membrane metabolizing enzymes will be cloned & tomato plants transformed with antisense constructs, enabling assessment of their importance in fruit ripening. We will also determine the role of N-glycans in ripening by studying their biological activity. BSL-1 Certified 9/7/01.