Carolina Contreras Duarte

Ingeniero Agrónomo, M. Sc., Ph. D.

 

Carolina Contreras es Profesora Auxiliar 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. 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 biología del aroma 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 Assistant 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)

Riaño, C., Ribba, T., Marchant, J. I., O’Brien, J. A., Contreras, C., & Zoffoli, J.P. (2022). Ultra-low oxygen and preconditioning storage regulate ethylene synthesis to prevent corky disorders in ‘Fuji’ apple. Frontiers in Plant Science, 13, 910139. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.910139 

 

Villavicencio, J. D., Zoffoli, J. P., Plotto, A., & Contreras, C. (2021). Aroma compounds are responsible for an herbaceous off-flavor in the sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) cv. Regina during fruit development. Agronomy, 11(10), 2020. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11102020.

 

Contreras, C., Hermosilla, A., Contreras, E., Naranjo, P., Zoffoli, J. P., & Gambardella, M. (2021). Postharvest physiology and storage potential of new Chilean raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) cultivars. Chilean Journal of Agricultural Research, 81(2), 161-171. http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0718-58392021000200161

 

Mogollon, R., Contreras, C., de Freitas, S. T., & Zoffoli, J. P. (2021). NIR spectral models for early detection of bitter pit in asymptomatic 'Fuji' apples. Scientia Horticulturae, 180, 109945. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2021.109945.

 

Bonomelli, C., Mogollon, R., de Freitas, S. T., Zoffoli, J. P., & Contreras, C. (2020). Nutritional relationships in bitter pit-affected fruit and the feasibility of Vis-NIR models to determine calcium concentration in 'Fuji' apples. Agronomy, 10(10), 1476. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10101476

FONDECYT Regular N° 1221725. (2022-2026). “Impact of increased temperatures due to climate change on fruit quality, nutritional value and flavor of raspberries (Rubus idaeus L.) cv. Heritage during fruit development and ripening”. Institución patrocinante UACH. Investigadora responsable.

 

FONDECYT Regular N° 12231665. (2023-2027). “Effect of N fertilization amount and form (NH4+ or NO3-) on Ca nutrition of blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) in Andisol soils of Southern Chile.”. Institución patrocinante PUC. Investigadora asociada.

 

FONDECYT Iniciación N°11180934. (2018-2021). “Elucidation of the nature of a bitter flavor that affects quality of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L. cv. Regina) during fruit maturation and storage”. Investigadora responsable.