Young Minds Award Winners
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Horticultural waste to edible resource: uncovering the nutritional potential of Rosa fruits Meichun Zhou Meichun Zhou is a master’s candidate supervised by Professor Chao Yu at Beijing Forestry University, China. Her work focuses on systematically exploring and utilizing the rich germplasm resources of the genus Rosa in China. As a modern distribution center for Rosa […]12 March 2026 -
The impact of DCA storage on fruit quality: a comparison between organic ‘Gala’ and ‘Honeycrisp’ apples Sadat Amankona Sadat Amankona is a Ph.D. candidate in the postharvest systems lab at Washington State University – Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center. His research focuses on using non-chemical strategies to optimize the storage of organic apples in […]11 December 2025
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As part of my doctoral dissertation, this study sought to investigate how the age of Opuntia ficus-indica orchards affected soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralization in Mediterranean drylands. The work was conducted in Sicily (Italy), where cactus pear is not only a resilient crop, but also a key component of local agro-ecosystems. The study focused on […]3 September 2025 -
In this study we assessed the immunomodulatory potential of different Opuntia cactus fruit species, which are rich in betalains and phenolic compounds. Three varieties were analyzed: Opuntia stricta var. dillenii (OD), Opuntia ficus-indica var. blanca (BB), and Opuntia ficus-indica var. colorada (COL), focusing on whole fruit (OD), peel (BB), and pulp (COL). All extracts demonstrated […]3 September 2025 -
In this study, we focused on UV-B irradiation (280-320 nm) as a novel disease control method as an alternative to synthetic fungicides. Previous studies have reported that UV-B irradiation is effective in controlling powdery mildew (Podosphaera pannosa) in roses. To optimize the irradiation method to treat rose powdery mildew, we cultivated roses using UV-B irradiation […]3 September 2025 -
Daniela Ramos is an MSc(Agric) student at the Department of Horticultural Science, Stellenbosch University, South Africa, under the supervision of Dr. Elke Crouch. Her research focuses on assessing pre- and postharvest factors influencing internal browning development in ‘Cripps Pink’ apples. She is collaborating on this project with Dr. Mariana Jooste from HortgroScience as well as […]3 September 2025 -
Didiana Gálvez-López is a young professor in the Bioscience Institute, in the Autonomous University of Chiapas, Mexico. Didiana’s research is focused on identifying biological and nutritional attributes of native mango germplasm from southern Mexico using strategies such as genetics, biochemical and physicochemical methods, for future breeding. In Chiapas, there is a wide range of native […]3 September 2025 -
Thelma Guadalupe Valdez-Reyes is a senior student of Agricultural Engineering with a specialization in Crop Science at the Universidad Autónoma Chapingo (UACh), Mexico. Her research is currently focused on evaluating the fungicidal activity of the essential oil of Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens) against different isolates of Colletotrichum spp., a complex of fungi responsible for anthracnose, […]3 September 2025 -
In recent years, Chile has experienced significant shifts in climate, with increasing temperatures and reduced rainfall. These climatic changes have negatively impacted both the quality and quantity of sweet cherry (Prunus avium) yields by disrupting key physiological processes such as flower induction and differentiation, thereby reducing crop productivity. Chilean sweet cherry cultivars, notably ‘SweetHeart’ and […]3 September 2025 -
A key limitation of current phenological models is their reliance solely on natural chill accumulation, without accounting for the effects of dormancy breaking agents. These agents, primarily growth regulators, have become increasingly important for managing and synchronizing cherry production, especially in the southern hemisphere and in regions where winters are becoming too mild to meet […]3 September 2025