Carolina Contreras Duarte
- Instituto de Producción y Sanidad Vegetal
- https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/2125132
- (56-63) 2221232
- carolina.contreras@uach.cl
Ingeniero Agrónomo, M. Sc., Ph. D.
Carolina Contreras es Profesora asociada del Instituto de Producción y Sanidad Vegetal de la Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Alimentarias de la Universidad Austral de Chile (UACh).
Realizó sus estudios de Ingeniera Agrónoma en la Universidad de Chile mención Fruticultura. Posteriormente realizó un Magíster en Ciencias Vegetales en la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile especializándose en postcosecha frutal. Luego, estudió su doctorado y obtuvo el grado de PhD. en Michigan State University, EE.UU. en Fisiología de Postcosecha.
Sus líneas de investigación dentro de la fisiología de postcosecha frutal son principalmente, la calidad de fruta, desórdenes fisiológicos y cambio climático en especies de interés tales como cerezas, frambuesas, manzanas entre otras.
Es responsable de las asignaturas de Fisiología de Postcosecha de Frutas y Hortalizas para pregrado y Bioquímica del Fruto para postgrado.
Horticulture, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Carolina Contreras is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Plant Health and Production, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Universidad Austral de Chile (UACh).
She received her Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture from Universidad de Chile and her M.Sc. in Plant Sciences from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, specialising in fruit postharvest. She completed her Ph.D. at Michigan State University, USA.
Her research interest focus on postharvest physiology of fruits, specifically fruit quality, physiological disorders, and aroma biology in species of interest such as sweet cherries, raspberries, and apples among others.
Her teaching responsibilities include the subjects of Postharvest Physiology of Fruits and Vegetables (undergraduate program) and Fruit Biochemistry (graduate program).
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Carolina-Contreras-17
Web of Science ResearcherID: ABE-3774-2020
Línea de Investigación (Graphical Abstract)
Hernández-Urrieta, J., García, S., Estait, L., Aguilar, F., O’Brien, J.A., Jerez, A., Contreras, C*. (2026). Increased temperatures promote fruit enlargement through cellular and transcriptomic changes in raspberries (Rubus idaeus L.) cv. Heritage. Plants 15(13): 2055. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15132055
Fuentes, L., Rivera-Smith, S., Contreras, C*. (2026). Potential negative impacts of rising temperatures on fruit ripening and quality in raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries. Scientia Horticulturae 358: 114692. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114692
Alvear, T., Gerding, M., Bastías, R.M., Contreras, C., Antileo-Mellado, S., Olivos, A., Calderón-Orellana, M., Calderón-Orellana, A. (2025). Physiological, productive, and soil rhizospheric microbiota responses of ‘Santina’ cherry trees to regulated deficit irrigation applied after harvest. Plants 14(23):3611. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14233611
Aguilar, F., Salazar, M., Fuentes, L., Calderini, D., Jerez, A., Contreras, C*. (2025). Increased temperature effects during fruit growth and maturation on the fruit quality, sensory and antioxidant properties of raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) cv. Heritage. Foods 14: 1201. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14071201
Villavicencio, J.D., Zoffoli, J.P., O'Brien, J.A. and Contreras, C*. (2025). Methyl jasmonate mediated modulation of lipoxygenase pathway modifies aroma biosynthesis during ripening of 'Regina' sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.). Postharvest Biology and Technology 225: 113511. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.113511
