Faculty Directory

Ph.D. (1990), Horticulture
University of Maryland

Postharvest biology and technology of fresh fruits and nuts.

Membership in graduate groups: Plant Biology, Horticulture and Agronomy, Food Science, and Entomology.

• Specialist and Pomologist
• Active member of the Postharvest Technology Research and Information Center and Faculty Director

The focus of my research and extension program is the postharvest biology and technology of fruits, especially apples, pears, cherries, strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries, as well as almonds and walnuts. In addition to studies on harvest maturity, storage conditions and flavor quality, my program focuses on regulation of fruit ripening and cellular regulation of calcium deficiency disorders.

In addition, my program is actively developing strategies for postharvest insect control in harvested and exported commodities, including citrus and table grapes.

Current research goals:

• Explore how pear fruit attain the capacity to ripen after harvest and when treated with 1-MCP, an ethylene action inhibitor.
• Explore the effects of postharvest treatments to stimulate pear ripening capacity on fruit sensory quality, volatile content and cell wall composition.
• Explore the development of calcium deficiency disorders at a cellular and molecular level as related to calcium homeostasis and plant growth regulator effects.
• Develop a pre-shipment treatment for control of bean thrips in navel oranges destined for Australian markets.
• Improve the existing postharvest fumigation treatment with carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide for control of black widow spiders on table grapes.
• Explore potential treatment options for control of light brown apple moths on harvested commodities as a preventative measure against possible spread of this quarantined pest within California.

• Pesis, E., S.E. Ebeler, S.T. de Freitas, M. Padda, and E.J. Mitcham. 2010. Short Anaerobiosis Period Prior to Cold Storage Alleviates Bitter Pit and Superficial Scald in Granny Smith Apples. J. Sci. Food Agric. 90:2114-2123.
• Villalobos-Acuña, M.G., W.V. Biasi, S. Flores, R.B. Elkins, N.H. Willits, and E.J. Mitcham. 2010. Preharvest application of 1-methyclopropene influences fruit drop and storage potential of ‘Bartlett’ pears. HortScience 45:610-616.
• de Freitas, S. T., C.V.T. do Amarante, J.M. Labavitch, and E.J. Mitcham. 2010. Cellular approach to understanding bitter pit development in apple fruit. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 57:6-13.
• Whitaker, B.D., M. Villalobos-Acuña, E.J. Mitcham and J.P. Mattheis.  2009. Superficial scald susceptibility and a-farnesene metabolism in ‘Bartlett’ pears grown in California and Washington. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 53: 43-50.
• Pesis, E., A. Ibanez, M. Phu, E. Mitcham, S. Ebeler, and A. Dandekar. 2009. Superficial scald and bitter pit development in cold-stored transgenic apples suppressed for ethylene biosynthesis. J. Agric. Food Chem. 57: 2786-2792.
• Villalobos, M. and E.J. Mitcham. 2008. Ripening of European pears: The chilling dilemma. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 49:187-200.
• De Castro, E., D. M Barrett, J.Jobling, E.J Mitcham. 2008. Biochemical Factors Associated with a CO2-Induced Flesh Browning Disorder of Pink Lady Apples. Postharvest Biology and Technology 48:182-191.
• De Castro, E., B. Biasi, S. Tustin, D. Tanner, J. Jobling, E.J. Mitcham. 2007. Carbon Dioxide-induced Flesh Browning in Pink Lady Apples. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 132:713-719.
• De Castro, E., B. Biasi, and E.J. Mitcham. 2007. Quality of Pink Lady apples in relation to maturity at harvest, prestorage treatments, and controlled atmosphere during storage. HortScience 42:605-610.
• Simpson, T., V. Bikoba, C. Tipping and E.J. Mitcham. 2007. Ethyl formate as a postharvest fumigant for selected pests of table grapes. J. Econ. Entomol. 100:1084-1090.
• Wang, S., M. Monzon, J.A. Johnson, E.J. Mitcham and J. Tang. 2007. Industrial-scale radio frequency treatments for insect control in walnuts II: Insect mortality and product quality. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 45:247-253.
• Wang, S., M. Monzon, J.A. Johnson, E.J. Mitcham and J. Tang. 2007. Industrial-scale radio frequency treatments for insect control in walnuts I:  Heating uniformity and energy efficiency. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 45:240-246.
• Monzon, M.E., B. Biasi and E.J. Mitcham. 2007. Effect of radio frequency heating on the quality of ‘Fuyu’ persimmon fruit as a treatment for control of the Mexican fruit fly. HortScience 41:1-5.
• Clayton, M., W.V. Biasi, I.T. Agar, S.M. Southwick and E.J. Mitcham. 2006. Sensory quality of ‘Bing’ sweet cherries following preharvest treatment with hydrogen cyanamide, calcium ammonium nitrate or gibberellic acid. HortScience 41: 41:745-748.
• Monzon, M.E., W. V. Biasi, T.L. Simpson, J. Johnson, X. Feng, D.C. Slaughter, and E.J. Mitcham. 2006. Effect of radio frequency heating as a potential quarantine treatment on the quality of ‘Bing’ sweet cherry fruit and mortality of codling moth larvae. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 40:197-203.
• Mitcham, E., T. Martin and S. Zhou. 2006. Mode of action of insecticidal controlled atmospheres. Bull. Entomol. Res.96:213-222.
• Simpson, T., V. Bikoba and E.J. Mitcham. 2004. Effects of ethyl formate on fruit quality and target pest mortality for harvested strawberries. Postharvest Biology Technology 34:313-319.
• Feng, X., J.D. Hansen, B. Biasi, J. Tang and E.J. Mitcham. 2004. Use of hot water treatment to control codling moths in harvested California ‘Bing’ sweet cherries. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 31:41-50.
• Mitcham, E.J., R.H. Veltman, X. Feng , E. de Castro, J.A. Johnson, T.L. Simpson, W.V. Biasi,S. Wang,  and J. Tang. 2004. Application of radio frequency treatments to control insects in in-shell walnuts. Postharvest Biology Technology 33:93-100.
• Ekman, J.H., M. Clayton, W.V. Biasi, and E.J. Mitcham. 2004. Interactions between 1-MCP concentration, treatment interval and storage time for ‘Bartlett’ pears. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 31:127-136.
• Feng, X., W.V. Biasi and E.J. Mitcham. 2004. Effects of various coatings and antioxidants on skin browning of ‘Bartlett’ pears. J. Sci. Food Agric. 84:595-600.
• Bower, J.H., W.V. Biasi, and E.J. Mitcham. 2003. Effects of ethylene and 1-MCP on the quality and storage life of strawberries. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 28:417-423.
• Bower, J.H., W.V. Biasi, and E.J. Mitcham. 2003. Effect of ethylene in the storage environment on quality of ‘Bartlett’ pears. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 28:371-379.
• Tipping, C., V. Bikoba, G. Chander and E.J. Mitcham. 2003. Efficacy of Silwet L-77 against several arthropod pests of table grapes. J. Econ. Entomol. 96:246-250.
• Simpson, T., V. Bikoba and E.J. Mitcham. 2003. Effects of acetaldehyde on fruit quality and target pest mortality for harvested strawberries. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 28:405-416.
• Zhou, S., R.S. Criddle, and E.J. Mitcham. 2001. Metabolic response of Platynota stultana pupae under and after extended treatment with elevated CO₂ and reduced O₂ concentrations. J. Insect Physiol. 47:401-409.
• Zhou, S., R.S. Criddle, and E.J. Mitcham. 2000. Metabolic response of Platynota stultana pupae to controlled atmospheres and its relation to insect mortality response. J. Insect Physiol. 46:1375-1385.
• Agar, I.T., W.V. Biasi and E.J. Mitcham. 2000. Cold storage duration influences ethylene biosynthesis and ripening of ‘Bartlett’ pears. HortScience 35:687-690.
• Agar, I.T., W.V. Biasi and E.J. Mitcham. 2000. Temperature and exposure time during ethylene conditioning affect ripening of Bartlett pears. J. Agric. Food Chem. 48:165-170.