Karin Albornoz

Assistant Professor of Postharvest
Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences Department, Coastal Research and Education Center

Office: Coastal Research and Education Center
Phone: 843-402-5394

Email: kpalbor@clemson.edu
Personal Website: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0483-4323

Educational Background

Ph.D. Horticulture and Agronomy
University of California, Davis 2019

M.S. Horticulture and Agronomy
University of California, Davis 2014

B.S. Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile 2008

Profile

I am a postharvest biologist with a faculty appointment of 100% research. My goal is to contribute to the reduction of postharvest losses and waste while improving the organoleptic and nutritional quality of fruits and vegetables.

Research Interests

My research is focused on 1) investigating the molecular, biochemical, and physiological factors that determine the quality and shelf-life of produce, 2) studying the impact of abiotic stress on the postharvest quality of fruits and vegetables, and 3) developing innovative approaches to reduce produce loss and waste. I implement conventional and biotechnological techniques to accomplish these goals.

Lab Members

Ebenezer Quandoh: PhD student
https://www.clemson.edu/cafls/faculty_staff/profiles/equando

Zenaba Abdissa: Agricultural/Animal Associate II
https://www.clemson.edu/cafls/faculty_staff/profiles/zabdiss

Extension and Outreach

• Lecture ‘Postharvest handling of fresh produce’, South Carolina New and Beginning Farmer Program, July 2023, 2024

• Podcast interview SC Grower Exchange from Clemson Extension “Post-Harvest Handling with Dr. Karin Albornoz”, released on May 15, 2024 https://open.spotify.com/episode/0WkFB6NVekf2S4kxEwWqYO?si=8630e78ebb0048c9

Publications

• Albornoz, K., Zhou, J., Zakharov, F., Grove, J., Wang M., Beckles, D.M. (2024). Ectopic overexpression of ShCBF1 and SlCBF1 in tomato suggests an alternative view of fruit responses to chilling stress postharvest. Frontiers in Plant Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1429321

• Zhang, Y., Dong, S., Guan, J., Liu, X., Xie, X., Albornoz, K., Han, J., Wang, Z., Gu, X., Zhang, S. & Miao, H. (2024). Genome-wide association study identifies candidate genes for bacterial soft rot resistance in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seedlings. Horticultural Plant Journal. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hpj.2024.02.006

• Villarroel, C. & Albornoz, K. (2024). FISIOLOGÍA DE LA MADURACIÓN Y MANEJO EN POSTCOSECHA DE FRUTILLA CHILENA (Fragaria chiloensis). Chilean Journal of Agricultural & Animal Sciences, 40(1), 198-212. https://doi.org/10.29393/CHJAAS40-19FMCK20019

• Zhou, J., Zhou, S., Chen, B., Sangsoy, K., Luengwilai, K., Albornoz, K. & Beckles, D.M. (2024). Integrative analysis of the methylome and transcriptome of tomato fruit (Solanum lycopersicum L.) induced by postharvest handling. Horticulture Research. https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhae095

• Nesic, A., Cabrera-Barjas, G., Albornoz, K., Lopez M.D., Giordano, A., Bravo-Arrepol, G., Moya, E., San Martin, J. & Valdes, O. (2024). Influence of chitin nanofibers and gallic acid on physical-chemical and biological performances of chitosan-based films. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 130159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130159

• Hermosilla, A. & Albornoz, K. (2023). FISIOLOGÍA Y TECNOLOGÍA DE POSTCOSECHA DE HORTALIZAS DE HOJA DE CUARTA GAMA: UNA REVISIÓN. Chilean Journal of Agricultural & Animal Sciences, 39(3), 413-429. https://doi.org/10.29393/CHJAA39-37FTAK20037

• Albornoz, K., Rosas, R. & López, M.D. (2023). Influence of a preharvest melatonin application on postharvest chilling injury in basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). Journal of Horticultural Research. https://doi.org/10.2478/johr-2023-0025

• Matamala, M.F.; Bastías, R.M.; Urra, I.; Calderón-Orellana, A.; Campos, J.; Albornoz, K. (2023). Rain Cover and Netting Materials Differentially Affect Fruit Yield and Quality Traits in Two Highbush Blueberry Cultivars via Changes in Sunlight and Temperature Conditions. Plants, 12(20), 3556; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12203556

• Albornoz, K., Zhou, J., & Beckles, D. M. (2023). Chemical induction of the Arabidopsis thaliana CBF1 gene in transgenic tomato fruit to study postharvest chilling injury. Current Plant Biology, 33, 100275. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpb.2023.100275

• Albornoz, K., Zhou, J., Yu, J., & Beckles, D. M. (2022). Dissecting postharvest chilling injury through biotechnology. Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 78, 102790. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102790

• Liu, T., Albornoz, K., Deltsidis, A., & Beckles, D. M. (2022). Editorial: Postharvest Ripening, Senescence, and Technology. Frontiers in Genetics, 13: 920584. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2022.920584

• Cantwell, M. I., Hong, G., Albornoz, K., & Berlanga, M. (2022). Fresh grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) leaves: Postharvest biology and handling recommendations. Scientia Horticulturae, 292, 110627. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2021.110627

• Zhou, J., Chen, B., Albornoz, K., & Beckles, D. M. (2021). Postharvest handling induces changes in fruit DNA methylation status and is associated with alterations in fruit quality in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Scientia Horticulturae, 283, 110090. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2021.110090

• Shipman, E.N., Yu, J., Zhou, J., Albornoz, K. & Beckles D.M. (2021). Can gene editing reduce postharvest waste and loss of fruit, vegetables, and ornamentals? Horticulture Research 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41438-020-00428-4

• Albornoz, K., Cantwell, M. I., Zhang, L., & Beckles, D. M. (2019). Integrative analysis of postharvest chilling injury in cherry tomato fruit reveals contrapuntal spatio-temporal responses to ripening and cold stress. Scientific reports, 9(1), 2795, pp. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-38877-0

• Albornoz, K., Chen, B., McCarthy, M., Cantwell, M.I. and Beckles, D.M. Investigating postharvest chilling injury in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) fruit using Magnetic Resonance Imaging and 5-azacytidine, a hypomethylation agent. (2018). In IV International Conference on Postharvest and Quality Management of Horticultural Products of Interest for Tropical Regions 1278, pp.243-252. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2020.1278.35

• Cantwell, M. I., Albornoz, K., & Hong, G. Ammonia accumulation is a useful indicator of the postharvest freshness and quality of spinach and kale. (2017). In VI International Conference Postharvest Unlimited 1256 pp. 303-310. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2019.1256.42

• Albornoz, K., & Cantwell, M. I. Fresh-cut kale quality and shelf-life in relation to leaf maturity and storage temperature. (2015). In III International Conference on Fresh-Cut Produce: Maintaining Quality and Safety 1141, pp. 109-116. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1141.11