PIF2025 - Physiological, structural and molecular factors involved in the response of citrus fruits to postharvest cold storage - (PID2024-156551OB-I00)

Citrus fruits are among the most important crops worldwide and postharvest refrigeration is an essential practice for exportation, preserve fruit quality, and reduce losses. Nevertheless, some citrus cultivars are sensitive to low temperatures and develop chilling injury in the peel during cold storage, which negatively affects fruit appearance and market acceptance. Therefore, understanding the factors that influence the occurrence of chilling injury during refrigerated storage is crucial to reduce postharvest losses and to ensure fruit quality. Several evidences suggest that the fruit surface waxes and/or cuticle may act as a protective barrier against low temperatures and changes in their characteristics could explain varietal or environmental differences in the sensitivity of citrus fruits to chilling injury. This research project proposes to study the structure, morphology, and metabolism of the natural surface waxes and cuticle in citrus fruits, and their relationship with the tolerance or susceptibility to chilling injury during refrigerated storage. To address this objective the PhD candidate, co-supervised by the two PIs of the project (Dr. MJ. Rodrigo, Scientific Researcher at CSIC, and Dr. L. Zacarías, Research Professor at CSIC), will receive comprehensive training covering fruit physiology, postharvest management (cold storage, chilling injury, and fruit quality), advanced microscopy techniques, analytical as well as molecular biology-biotechnology methodologies.