Program Leader
Dr. Carolina Torres is an Endowed Chair in Tree Fruit Postharvest Systems. Her research program focus is on Washington apples, pears and cherries. Areas of research include abiotic stress and climate effect on fruit quality and storage disorders, fruit physiology and biochemistry, handling technologies, and postharvest systems to optimize fruit quality throughout the supply chain.
Contact:
Department of Horticulture
Tree Fruit Research & Extension Center
1100 N Western Av., Wenatchee, WA 98801
phone: 509-293-8808
email: ctorres@wsu.edu
Recent Publications
Torres, C.A., Mogollon, R. 2022. Characterization of sun-injury and prediction of sunscald on ‘Packham’s Triumph’ pears using Vis-NIR spectroscopy. Postharvest Biology and Technology 184, 111776, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2021.111776
Sanchez-Contreras, J., Rudell, D., Mattheis, J., Torres, C.A. 2021. Sphingolipids associated with flesh browning onset and development in ‘Cripps Pink’ apples (Malus domestica Borkh.). Postharvest Biology and Technology 180, 111623, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2021.111623.3
Figueroa, C. R., Jiang Cai-Zhong, Torres, C.A., Fortes A.M., Alkan N. 2021. Editorial: Regulation of Fruit Ripening and Senescence. Frontiers in Plant Science 12, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.711458
Concha-Meyer, A., Sepúlveda, G., Pérez-Díaz, R., Torres, C.A. 2021. Effect of preservation processing on quality attributes and phenolic profile of maqui (Aristotelia chilensis mol. Stuntz) fruit. LWT 149, 111920, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2021.111920.
Torres, C.A., Sepulveda, G., Mejia, N., Defilippi, B.G., Larrigaudiere, C. 2021. Understanding the key preharvest factors determining ‘Packham’s Triumph’ pear heterogeneity and impact in superficial scald development and control. Postharvest Biology and Technology 172, 111399, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2020.111399
McTavish, C.K., Poirier, B.C., Torres, C.A., Mattheis, J.P., Rudell, D.R. 2020. A convergence of sunlight and cold chain: The influence of sun exposure on T postharvest apple peel metabolism. Postharvest Biology and Technology 164, 111164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2020.111164.
Torres C.A., C. Azocar, Perez-Diaz, R., Ramos P., Sepúlveda G., Moya-Leon M.A. 2020. Photooxidative Stress Activates A Complex Multigenic Response Integrating Ethylene and Phenylpropanoids Pathways on apples. Horticulture Research, 7-22. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41438-020-0244-1
Morales-Quintana L., Waite J., Kalcsits L., Torres C.A., Ramos P. Sun injury on apple fruit: physiological, biochemical and molecular advances, and future challenges. 2020. Scientia Horticulturae 260, 108866. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2019.108866
Yuri J., Moggia C., Sepulveda A., Poblete-Echeverria C., Valdes-Gomez H., Torres, C.A. Effect of cultivar, rootstock, and growing conditions on fruit maturity and postharvest quality as part of a six-year apple trial in Chile. 2019. Scientia Horticulturae 253: 70-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2019.04.020
Sanchez-Contreras, J., Torres, C. A., Hertog, M.L.A.T.M. (2019). Optimization of external Vis/NIR reflectance measurements to predict internal browning on ‘Cripps Pink’ apples. Acta Horticulturae, 1256, 211-216. DOI 10.17660/ActaHortic.2019.1256.29
Torres, C.A., Valdivia, A., Jorquera, G., Hernandez, O. (2019). The use of DA meter to assess apple and pear maturity in Chile. Acta Horticulturae, 1256, 63-70. 10.17660/ActaHortic.2019.1256.10
Torres, C.A., Sepulveda, G., Concha-Meyer A. Effect of processing on quality attributes and phenolic profile of quince dried bar snack. 2019. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 99(5): 2556-2564. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.9467
Concha-meyer A., Grandon S., Sepúlveda G., Diaz R., Yuri J., Torres C.A. Pesticide residues quantification in frozen fruit and vegetables in Chilean domestic market using QuEChERS extraction with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization Orbitrap mass spectrometry. 2019. Food Chemistry 295: 64-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2019.05.046
Grandon, S., Sanchez-Contreras, J., Torres, C.A. Prediction models for sunscald on apples (Malus domestica Borkh.) cv. Granny Smith using Vis-NIR reflectance. 2019. Postharvest Biology and Technology 151: 36-44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2019.01.012
Extension Publications
- Hanrahan, I., Torres, C.A. WA38 Defect guide/WA 38 Common Defects and Unique Characteristics Near Harvest and During Storage. August 2020. http://treefruit.wsu.edu/wa-38-defects-guide/?print-view=true
- Hanrahan, I., Torres, C.A. Recommended Harvest Criteria for commercial WA-38 Storage in 2020. July 2020. http://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/treefruit.wsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/10083621/Commercial_WA38_storage_harvest_criteria_2020.pdf
- Torres, CA., Gomez, R. WA38 First commercial season (2019-2020), storage and packing observations. Fruit Matters, June 2020. http://treefruit.wsu.edu/article/wa-38-storage-and-packing-observations-cs1/
- Torres, C. A., Sepulveda, G. (2019). Estrategias de almacenaje para reducir el pardeamiento interno en manzanas cv. Cripps Pink. Revista Frutícola, 41(2): 55-59. https://www.copefrut.com/wp-content/themes/copefrut/img/revistas/2019_N2.pdf
Dr. Torres on the news:
Good Fruit Grower. Grower concerns, research, stats punctuate Cosmic Crisp session. Dec 8, 2021.
Yakima Herald. Cosmic Crisp apples make their earliest appearance yet in stores. Nov 8, 2021
WSU INSIDER. WSU’s Cosmic Crisp® apples will hit stores early this year. Nov 2, 2021
Good Fruit Grower. Just how hot is it as growers keep their cool?. Oct 19,2021
Good Fruit Grower. Timing is everything for Cosmic Crisp. Sept 14, 2021
WSU INSIDER. Helping save apples from sunburn. Jul 7, 2021
Good Fruit Grower. Sophomore slump for Cosmic Crisp?. May 5, 2021
Good Fruit Grower, Optical advantage for fruit quality research, Jan 26, 2021.
Good Fruit Grower, Hotter climate alters the cold chain, Jan 23, 2020.
Good Fruit Grower, Hot start continues for Cosmic Crisp, Jun 23, 2020.
Good Fruit Grower, Packing performance good for first Cosmic Crisp, Feb 11, 2020.
Good Fruit Grower, Sun stress has growers sun wary, Jan 23, 2020.
Good Fruit Grower [VIDEO], How to predict sunburn damage, Aug 2, 2017.