JULIAN C. VERDONK

(Invited Speaker Session 3: Flower physiology and post-harvest of ornamentals.

This presentation will relate to the symposium Postharvest and horticultural products quality- S10)

Julian Verdonk is a postharvest physiologist with a background in molecular plant physiology and specialized metabolites. He obtained his PhD at the university of Amsterdam on the production of floral scent in petunia. He did several postdocs in the Unites States (Florida, Wisconsin), and Chile, all on the interplay of plant physiology and specialized metabolite biosynthesis. Since 2014, he is an assistant professor at Wageningen University and Research at the Department of Horticulture and Product Physiology. Current research interests are specialized metabolites, postharvest quality, and the interplay between (a)biotic conditions during cultivation on the quality of plant products. His research focusses also on how a plant regulates different biochemical routes during stages of plant development, especially in flowers and or fruits. He studies genes and gene products involved in enzyme organization and regulatory mechanisms of plant natural products and use this knowledge to select plants with improved qualities: better resistance against pest, drought, or salinity, or with better post-harvest qualities: better seed set, fruit size or flavour, vase and/or shelf life.

Title of the presentation: Effect of preharvest conditions on postharvest quality of cut flowers