• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.166-172
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• 2019

BACKGROUND: Increase in the ratio of small berries in blueberry production decreases the farmers' profits due to weakening market competitiveness and lowering harvest efficiency. One of the reasons for increased small berries is over fruit-load. For improving productivity and competitiveness of blueberry in Korea, hand-thinning can be applied to increase fruit quality before the developing adequate chemical thinning methods. This study was conducted to investigate the proper timing and methods for floral buds thinning in rabbiteye blueberry. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eight years old bushes of rabbiteye bluberries 'Brightwell' as a primary cultivar and 'Powderblue' as a pollinizer were used for this study. Fruit size distribution by leaf-to-fruit ratio was investigated by counting the number of leaves and fruits in canes of 127 'Brightwell' plants whose fruit set varied. Fifty percent of flowers/floral buds were removed in four different floral buds stages such as bud swell, late pink bud, full bloom, and petal fall, and the consumed time for thinning and fruit characteristics were recorded to investigate the effect and proper timing of floral buds thinning. Fruit weight and soluble solids content tended to increase in proportion to leaf-to-fruit ratio and the production of the number of fruits less than 13 mm in diameter decreased when leaf-to-fruit ratio was more than 2.5. Manual floral buds thinning by hands was fastest in full bloom stage and slowest in bud swelling stage. In all cultivars, fruit size was significantly smaller in non-thinning treatment than thinning, and there was, however, no significant difference in total fruit yield. The number of fruits less than 13 mm in diameter increased in both cultivars as floral buds thinning was delayed. Consumed time for picking 90% berries out of total berries per bush was shortest in full bloom stage thinning in 'Brightwell' and bud swelling, full bloom thinning in 'Powderblue'. These were 25 and 20 days faster than no thinning, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although the effect of floral buds thinning varied depending on the cultivars, our results confirmed that floral buds thinning was effective for the early intensive harvesting and the increase of the large fruit ratio and the harvesting productivity. Also, in order to increase thinning efficiency, it is recommended to remove the flower buds before the full bloom stage.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.216-222
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• 2009

The present study aims to monitor pesticide residues in cut flowers collected from the farms and markets. Cut flowers used in this study included rose, lily and chrysanthemum collected from June to September, 2008. Samples were collected once from farms in Hwasung, Goyang (Gyeonggi-do), Inje (Gangwon-do) and thrice from wholesale market in Namdaemunm, Yangjae and Gangnam (Seoul). Total of 24 pesticides (12 fungicides, 11 pesticides and 1 acaricide) were detected from samples collected from farm and total of 64 pesticides (25 fungicides, 36 pesticides, 1 acaricide and 2 fungicides) were detected from samples collected from wholesale market. The highest detection frequency of pesticide from farm was for carbaryl (15%) and for boscalid, fluacrypyrin, fluquinconazole, methomyl, pyraclostrobin, trifloxystrohin (10%), with overall detection of $0.1-36.99\;mg\;kg^{-1}$. While the highest detection frequency of pesticides from wholesale market was for carbaryl, fluquinoconazole and kresoxim-methyl (18.52%), methomyl (16.6%), and methiocarb and thiacloprid (12.96%) with overall detection amount of $0.1-56.2\;mg\;kg^{-1}$. Higher amount of pesticides were detected in leaves than in flowers. Among the pesticides detected, detection frequency of unregistered pesticides for rose, chrysanthemum and lily was 55%, 60% and 63% collected from farms and 47%, 60% and 89% collected from markets, respectively. These pesticides require registration and further monitoring in floricultural crops.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.173-177
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• 2022

Mushroom production in Korea is concentrated on five major mushroom types. To create a new source of income for farmers, it is necessary to establish new mushroom production and marketing systems. This study was conducted to evaluate the marketability of and establish a marketing strategy for Pleurotus nebrodensis variety 'Uram'. The evaluation of distributors showed that it was necessary to cultivate mushrooms of uniform shape and size, to compensate for their low storability, and to sell them in small packages. The consumer evaluation showed that the texture of P. nebrodensis had the highest level of satisfaction for quality, but the levels of satisfaction for size and shape were low. In the consumer evaluation, as in the distributor evaluation, improvements in cultivation were found to be necessary, as the storage time is short due to a high moisture content. An evaluation of the market gave the following results regarding the marketing strategy. It was found to be necessary to consider the production of mushrooms of a uniform shape and size and sell them in small packages in the range of 150 to 300 g. The price of the mushrooms should be set using a high-end strategy for high-end sales. The mushrooms should be introduced to local food and eco-friendly stores in the early stages of production. Subsequently, if farmhouse production increases, shipments should be made to wholesale markets through a regular contract. Finally, considering that P. nebrodensis is an unfamiliar mushroom to consumers, it is necessary to promote it by increasing the accessibility of consumers through tasting events and experience groups.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2012

The effect of the packing methods for enhancing the shelf life and improving the postharvest quality of the $tah$ $tasai$ Chinese cabbage baby leaf vegetable was studied during storage. Fresh baby leaf vegetables were packed in four commercial packaging types: (1) a non-perforated bag with a 0.03-mm oriented polypropylene (OPP) film; (2) a perforated bag with 1.0-mm-diameter holes on an OPP film; (3) a 0.40-mm polyethylene terephthalate (PET) container with a hinged lid; and (4) an expanded polystyrene (EPS) tray wrapped with a 0.02-mm polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film. The quality parameters, such as the weight loss, moisture content change, color difference, and appearance of the baby leaf vegetables were investigated. The baby leaf vegetables in the PET container and in the non-perforated OPP film bag showed relatively low weight loss, high moisture content, and good external appearance compared to those in the EPS tray and in the perforated OPP film bag during limited storage periods, at $16^{\circ}C$. The PET container also protected the baby leaf vegetables from physical damage. The study results will enable the selection of a better packaging system for extending the freshness and increasing the market ability of baby leaf vegetables.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate the packaging status of the $Agaricus$ $bisporus$ mushrooms and the benefits of storing them after precooling to improve their distribution system using small packages. The packaging status of the $Agaricus$ $bisporus$ mushrooms was surveyed at a farm, a department store, a wholesale market, and a supermarket from May to September 2011. The packaging materials that were used were PS, carton, PP, LDPE, PLA, and PVC. The harvested $Agaricus$ $bisporus$ mushrooms were precooled at $4^{\circ}C$ for three hours and were then stored at $20^{\circ}C$ for three days. The weight loss rate of the precooled sample was slightly lower than that of the unprecooled sample; conversely, the L value of the precooled sample was higher than that of the unprecooled sample. The ${\Delta}E$ value was lowest in the precooled sample after packaging. The precooling process effectively prolonged the shelf life and enhanced the quality of the$Agaricus$ $bisporus$ mushrooms.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to review the brief physiological characteristics and some factors of the quality decay of strawberry harvested in Korea. Strawberries are highly perishable with soft surface. Surface injury and fungus growth are common as a result of handling and distribution. Many growers and distributers are considered to protect the physical impact and inhibit the fungus growth for prolonging the shelf life in the distribution and market channels. Post-harvest treatments of precooling, carbon dioxide, chlorine dioxide, ozone, and ultrasound are practiced on strawberry in order to extend shelf-life and preserve the quality. Modified atmosphere packaging, edible coating, and oxygen absorbent application can be used as supplemental treatments to extend postharvest-life of strawberry. The packaging types for current domestic and export strawberry in Korea were summarized. The findings from this study can be lead to a better understanding of strawberry packaging development associated with the proper handling and distribution of strawberry. This could be useful for the strawberry growers, distributors, and buyers.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.127-132
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• 2016

This study evaluated the economic value of the development of a new variety of Citrus unshiu using the income approach, Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and Benefit/Cost (B/C) ratio. The new variety of Citrus unshiu was developed by the national institute of horticultural and herbal science in Korea, rural development administration. The technological evaluation of the development of a new variety of Citrus unshiu can be used to improve the efficiency and practicality of the development of a new variety of citrus. From the research results, the technological value of development of a new variety of Citrus unshui was evaluated at 109,455(discount rate=8%, minimum), 195,040(discount rate=4%, maximum), and 145,375(discount rate=6%, average) million won. The IRR was 51.4%, which was greater than the discount rate(4~8%). The NPV was evaluated at 145.3 billion won(discount rate=6%, average), 195.0 billion won(discount rate=4%, maximum) and 109.4 billion won(discount rate=8%, minimum), all of which were greater than 0. The B/C ratio was evaluated at 60.9(discount rate=6%, average), 81.3(discount rate=4%, maximum) and 46.1(discount rate=8%, minimum), all of which were greater than 1. Therefore, the economic validity of the development of a new variety of Citrus unshiu was identified by this technological evaluation.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.55-64
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• 2018

Recently, it has been a big issue to distinguish the dried roots of Cynanchum wilfordii and C. auriculatum in health functional food market. The original plant species of Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix belong to the Asclepiadaceae family is differentially described in the national pharmacopoeia of Korea, China and Japan. Owing to the morphological similarities of the dried roots of this plant to those of C. auriculatum, which is often misidentified in Korean herbal medicine marketplace, distinguishing these two species is exceedingly difficult. The purpose of this study was to compare the conventional-PCR with the real-time PCR for detection of C. wilfordii and C. auriculatum DNA. We also tried to realize a quantitative real-time PCR assay using species-specific matK primers, which allowed us to estimate the ratio of C. willfordii and C. auriculatum using varying ratios of mixed genomic DNA template from the two species. The differentiation of intentional and unintentional mixture in this study would be applied to food safety management and can be helpful for protection of consumer's right and cultivators.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.224-231
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• 2011

Effects of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) treatment and controlled atmosphere (CA) storage was analyzed for the export quality of 'Fuji' apples after 8-month storage. Apples were harvested from two orchards located in different regions at relatively late stage of maturity for long-term storage. Fruit were treated with 1 ${\mu}L{\cdot}L^{-1}$ 1-MCP and then stored in $0^{\circ}C$ air or CA with 1.5 kPa $O_2$ and < 1.0 kPa $CO_2$ for 8 months. To simulate poststorage export process such as 2-week refrigerated container shipment plus 7-day local distribution, fruit were put in $0^{\circ}C$ air storage for additional two weeks and then on the shelf for 7 days at $20^{\circ}C$. Both the 1-MCP treatment and CA storage reduced respiration and ethylene evolution after storage and shipping simulation, and successfully maintained titratable acidity and flesh firmness even after the export process. In 'Fuji' apples harvested after adequate stage of maturity for long-term storage, however, 1-MCP treatment alone seemed not to be satisfactory for the maintenance of sensorial fruit texture for export market. CA storage or 1-MCP treatment/CA storage combination program should be applied for lately harvested 'Fuji' apples exported after eight months storage.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.902-911
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• 2010

Oriental melon ($Cucumis$ $melo$ var. $makuwa$) is a popular and high-value market fruit cultivated in Korea. Consumers are becoming increasingly interested in oriental melon as a healthy diet over the past few years. However, the melons have relatively high quality loss because the fruit are mainly produced for a limited period of time in the summer season. Lack of the proper postharvest treatments and high temperature exposure at harvest or during distribution are the most critical environmental factors limiting postharvest life of fruit. This review focuses on the overview of current research studies for postharvest treatment and functional packaging technology of oriental melon in Korea. Major physiological problems of the harvest fruit include the ripening process in quality changes of the produce such as loss of weight, firmness, flavor, and decay during the storage periods. Low temperature at 7 to $10^{\circ}C$ with high relative humidity of 90 to 95% is the suitable environmental condition used to maintain the quality of fresh oriental melon. Controlled atmosphere (CA) storage or modified atmosphere (MA) packaging can be used as supplemental treatments to extend postharvest-life. For oriental melon, an optimum CA is currently recommended to be 2-3% oxygen and 5-10% carbon dioxide atmosphere. Precooling, pretreatments of ethylene action and functional packaging system can be applied to oriental melon after harvest in order to extend storage life. Major active packaging technologies are concerned with a selectively gas permeable film related to respiration of produce and the packaging applications of ethylene removal, antimicrobial, and antifogging substances to keep the effective freshness of fruit.