Food Science and Nutrition Lab

Project 1 (Year 2023): Drought stress on table grape quality

Table grapes are the second highest grossing agricultural commodity in Kern County. Table grapes are considered to be a relatively drought tolerant crop, yet as water availability becomes increasingly scarce in certain regions, the risk for high drought stress is increased. Table grapes are susceptible to quality loss when under high drought stress, yet the effects can be highly variable between table grape varieties. No research has been performed on the effects of water deficits on certain parameters of table grape quality in Kern County. One important quality parameter for table grapes is the levels of monoterpenoids, aroma compounds that contribute to overall flavor. Monoterpenoids have a ten-carbon backbone with two isoprenes. Geraniol is present in the cis-conformation and nerol is a trans-conformation of geraniol. Furaneol, another important aroma compound in table grapes, is composed of a furan ring and a ketone functional group. Other important quality parameters include total soluble solids (TSS), phenolic content, and acidity.