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Dr. Jeffrey K. Brecht

Research Foundation Professor

Mailing Address:
Fifield Hall
2550 Hull Road
PO Box 110690
Gainesville, Florida 32611

Office: 1217 Fifield Hall
Phone: (352) 273-4778
Fax : (352) 392-5653
E-mail: jkbrecht@ufl.edu

  • Areas of Research
    • Postharvest Physiology
  • Teaching Responsibilities
    • HOS 4332C (Principles of Postharvest Horticulture)
    • HOS 5085C (Principles of Postharvest Horticulture)
    • HOS 6331 (Postharvest Biology)
  • Educational Background
    • Ph.D., University of California, Davis, CA (1984)
    • B.S., Whittier College, Whittier, CA (1979)
  • Extension Program
    • Demonstrating the effects of postharvest procedures on maintenance of product quality
    • Extension of postharvest information through presentations at extension and industry meetings
  • Work Experience
    • University of Florida Research Foundation Professor, Postharvest Physiology and Horticulture, Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida (2002-05 and 2008-11)
    • Professor, Postharvest Physiology and Horticulture, Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida (1995 to present)
    • Associate Professor, Postharvest Physiology and Horticulture, Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida (1989 to 1995)
    • Assistant Professor, Postharvest Physiology and Horticulture, Vegetable Crops Department, University of Florida (1984 to 1989)
  • International Experience
    • Invited keynote speaker at conferences in Brazil (2019), China (2014, 2019), Italy (2019), Mexico (2019), and Taiwan (2023)
    • National Mango Board – April 2021-Dec. 2023. Managing a multi-institution, multi-country (US-Brazil-Peru) project, “Demonstrating the Feasibility of Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) Plus Ethylene Scrubbing for Mangos”
    • Invited keynote speaker at Indian international webinar on “Mango Postharvest” (2021)
    • Instructor on “Postharvest Technology” in Indian Faculty Development Programme, "Emerging Technologies in Postharvest Management and Value Addition of Horticultural Commodities" (2020)
    • International Supervisor, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Institute of Food Science and technology (2019)
    • Visiting Professor, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, China (2016)
    • National Mango Board – August 2013-May 2017. Managing a multi-institution, multi-country project to determine the cause of the fruit disorder, corte negro, in collaboration with the mango exporters associations, FME (Ecuador) and APEM (Peru).
    • National Mango Board Outreach Programs in Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Mexico, and Peru; 2011-19.
  • Honors and Awards
    • Honorary Member of the Florida State Horticultural Society, 2014
    • University of Florida Research Foundation Professor, 2008 (previously named in 2002)
    • Fellow of the American Society for Horticultural Science, 2006.
    • Outstanding Extension Materials Award, Video Category, ASHS, 2006, for "Worker Health and Hygiene Training Manual for Florida Produce Industry."
  • Program Personnel
    • Moshe Doron, Senior Biologist
    • Yuru Chang, Ph.D. Graduate Student
    • Faisal Shahzad, Postdoctoral Associate
    • Dr. Afiya John, Visiting Scientist, Univ. West Indies

Selected Publications

(See also: Google Scholar)

Authors Year Title / Description Publication

Brecht, J.K., A. Plotto, A. Marín-Gozalbo, and R. Goodrich 

2023 

Fresh-Cut Mango Best Management Practices Manual. 

HS1443. UF/IFAS, Gainesville, FL. 31 p.  https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-HS1443-2023 

Brecht, J.K., M.A. Ritenour, M.A. Olmstead, A. Sarkhosh, J.X. Chaparro, J.A. Bartz, S.A. Sargent, and J. Van Sickle 

2023 

Harvesting and Postharvest Handling of Stonefruit in Florida. 

HS1459. UF/IFAS, Gainesville, FL. 68 p. https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-hs1459-2023 

Chang, L. and J.K. Brecht

2023 

Responses of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP)−treated banana fruit to pre− and post−treatment ethylene exposure. coating: the role of internal modified atmosphere. 

Sci. Hort. 309:111636 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2022.111636 

Ghimire, U., E. Pliakoni, F. Yu, J.K. Brecht, and T. Liu 

2023 

Identifying genes regulated during natural, on-plant senescence in broccoli (Brassica oleracea) in contrast to postharvest senescence. 

Postharvest Biol. Technol. 206:112535 14 p. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2023.112535 

Shahzad, F. T. Vashisth, M.A.Ritenour, and J.K.Brecht 

2023 

Huanglongbing disease symptoms and the postharvest quality of ‘LB8-9’ (Sugar Belle®) and ‘Tango’ mandarins as affected by ethylene treatment. 

Scientia Horticulturae 310:111766, 10 p., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2022.111766 

Yahia, E.M., J. de J. Ornelas-Paz, J.K. Brecht, P. Garcia-Solis, and M.E.Maldonado Celis 

2023 

The contribution of mango fruit (Mangifera indica L.) to human nutrition and health. 

Arabian J. Chemistry 16:104860 27 p. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2023.104860 

Ahlawat, Y., S. Li, P.R. Timilsena, E.D. Pliakoni, J.K. Brecht, and T. Liu 

2022 

Identification of senescence-associated genes in broccoli (Brassica oleracea) following harvest. 

Postharvest Biol. Technol. 183:111729, 13 p. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2021.111729 

Chang, L., S.A. Sargent, J. Kim and J.K. Brecht. 

2022 

Delaying ripening using 1-MCP reveals chilling injury symptom development at the putative chilling threshold temperature for mature green banana. 

Frontiers in Plant Science-Crop and Product Physiology. 13:966789, 12 p. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.966789 

Chang Y., P.F. Harmon, D.D. Treadwell, D. Carrillo, A. Sarkhosh, J.K. Brecht. 

2022 

Biocontrol potential of essential oils in organic horticulture systems: From farm to fork. 

Frontiers in Nutrition. 8:805138, 26 p. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2021.805138 

Marin, A., E.A. Baldwin, J. Bai, D. Wood, C. Ference, X. Sun, J.K. Brecht, and A. Plotto 

2021 

Edible coatings as carriers of antibrowning compounds to maintain appealing appearance of fresh-cut fresh-cut mango. 

HortTechnology 31:27-35. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH04687-20 

Shahkoomahally, S., A. Sarkhosh, L.M. Richmond-Cosie, and J.K. Brecht 

2021 

Physiological responses and quality attributes of muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia Michx) to CO2-enriched atmosphere storage. 

Postharv. Biol. Technol. 173, 111428 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2020.111428 

Spricigo, P.C., T. Padua de Freitas, E. Purgatto, M. D. Ferreira, D. Souza Correa, J. Bai, and J.K. Brecht 

2021 

Visually imperceptible mechanical damage of harvested tomatoes changes ethylene production, color, enzyme activity, and volatile compounds profile. 

Postharv. Biol. Technol. 176, 111503 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2021.111503 
Xie, Y., J.K. Brecht, C.E. Abrahan, E.R. Bornhorst, Y. Luo, A.L. Monge, K. Vorst, and W. Brown 2021 Improving temperature management and retaining quality of freshcut leafy greens by retrofitting open refrigerated retail display cases with doors. J. Food Eng. 292, 110271. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2020.110271
Baldwin, E.A. and J.K. Brecht 2020 Advances in the use of barrier coatings and additives in the preservation of fresh horticultural produce. p. 91-115. In: C. Watkins (ed.). Advances in Postharvest Management of Horticultural Produce. Burleigh Dodds, Cambridge, U.K.
Boz, Z., B.A. Welt, J. Canter, J.K. Brecht, and W. Pelletier 2020 Comparing steady state to unsteady state respiration rate measurement methods for design of modified atmosphere packaging of grape tomatoes and blueberries with microperforations. J. Food Sci. 85:1997-2003. DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.15177
Brecht, J.K., E. Pliakoni, and K. Batziakias 2020 The impact of temperature on atmosphere requirements and effects: The limits of design and utility for CA/MA/MAP. p. 147-166. In: R. Beaudry and M.I. Gil (eds.). Controlled and Modified Atmospheres for Fresh and Fresh-Cut Produce. Academic.
Brecht, J.K., I. Uysal, M. C. N. Nunes, J. P. Emond, S. Mercier, and U. McCarthy 2020 Smart distribution to maintain shelf-life of horticultural produce. p. 409-432. In: C. Watkins (ed.). Advances in Postharvest Management of Horticultural Produce. Burleigh Dodds, Cambridge, U.K.
Chang, L.-Y. and J.K. Brecht 2020 Variation among strawberry cultivars in bruising susceptibility related to wound ethylene production and sensitivity. HortScience 55:444-448. DOI: 10.21273/HORTSCI14733-19
Loayza, F.E., J.K. Brecht, A.H. Simonne, A. Plotto, E.A. Baldwin, J. Bai, E. Lon-Kan 2020 A brief hot-water treatment alleviates chilling injury symptms in fresh tomatoes. J. Sci. Food. Agric. DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.10821
Loayza, F.E., J.K. Brecht, A.H. Simonne, A. Plotto, E.A. Baldwin, J. Bai, E. Lon-Kan 2020 Synergy between hot water treatment and high temperature ethylene treatment in promioting antioxidants in mature-green tomatoes. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 170, 111314. DOI: 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2020.111314
Loayza, F.E., J.K. Brecht, A.H. Simonne, A. Plotto, E.A. Baldwin, J. Bai, E. Lon-Kan 2020 Enhancement of the antioxidant capacity of ripe tomatoes by the application of a hot water treatment at the mature-green stage. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 161, 111054. DOI: 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2019.111054
Rubio Ames, Z., J.K. Brecht, and M.A. Olmstead 2020 Nitrogen fertilization rates in a subtropical peach orchard: Effects on tree vigor and fruit quality. J. Sci. Food Agric. 100:527-539. DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.10031
Brecht, J.K. (ed.) 2019 Protecting Perishable Foods During Transport by Truck or Rail. University of Florida and USDA AMS, Gainesville, Fla., HS1328. 204 p.
Mercier, S., J.K. Brecht, and I. Uysal 2019 Commercial forced-air precooling of strawberries: a temperature distribution and correlation study. J. Food Eng. 242:47-54.
Wang, L., E.A. Baldwin, W. Luo, W. Zhao, J. Brecht, and J. Bai. 2019 Key tomato volatile compounds during postharvest ripening in response to chilling and pre-chilling heat treatments. Postharv. Biol. Technol. 154:11-20.