Literature

A research note

In 2007 we published a research note in Computers and Electronics in Agriculture describing the first version of OptiPa describing how it can be used to develop and calibrate mathematical models in the area of postharvest biology and technology:

Hertog M L A T M, Verlinden B E, Lammertyn J, Nicolaï B M, 'OptiPa, an essential primer to develop models in the postharvest area', Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2007 57 99–106.

This paper (which is also included in the distribution package of OptiPa) can be read as a quick introduction to OptiPa, its main abilities and its intended use.

Citing OptiPa

When you start using Optipa and publish your result, citation of the research note mentioned above is encouraged using for instance:

... The developed model was implemented and model parameters were estimated using OptiPa (Hertog et al., 2007), a dedicated optimisation tool which was developed using Matlab (The MathWorks, Inc., Natick, MA, USA). ...

Models from literature

Over the years, OptiPa has been further developed and used to analyse experimental data covering different topics from the field of postharvest research. Some of the below mentioned models are included in OptiPa as Demo models. The -icons will bring you to the various publications on the publishers' websites.

Softening and chilling injury in kiwifruit

Gwanpua, S.G., Zhao, M., Jabbar, A., Bronlund, J.E., East, A.R., 2022. A model for firmness and low temperature-induced storage breakdown disorder of ‘Hayward’ kiwifruit in supply chain. Postharvest Biology and Technology 185,111789.

Batch variation in softening of avocado fruit

Hernández, I., Uarrota, V., Paredes, D., Fuentealba, C., Defilippi, B.G., Campos-Vargas, R., Meneses., C., Hertog, M., Pedreschi, R., 2021. Can metabolites at harvest be used as physiological markers for modelling the softening behaviour of Chilean “Hass” avocados destined to local and distant markets? Postharvest Biology and Technology 174,111457.

Electrolyte leakage in dragon fruit

Ho, P.L., Tran, D.T., Hertog, M.L.A.T.M., Nicolaï, B.M., 2021. Effect of controlled atmosphere storage on the quality attributes and volatile organic compounds profile of dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus). Postharvest Biology and Technology 173, 111406.

Electrolyte leakage in mango fruit

Cantre, D., Mata, C.I., Verboven, P., Hertog, M.L.A.T.M., Nicolaï, B.M., 2020. 3-D microstructural changes in relation to the evolution of quality during ripening of mango (Mangifera indica L. cv. Carabao). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 100(14), 5207-5221.

Changes in the respiratory quotient

Bessemans, N., Verboven, P., Verlinden, B.E., Janssens, M., Hertog, M.L.A.T.M., Nicolaï, B.M., 2020. Apparent respiratory quotient observed in headspace of static respirometers underestimates cellular respiratory quotient of pear fruit. Postharvest Biology and Technology 162, 111104.

Respiration of dragon fruit

Ho, P.L., Tran, D.T., Hertog, M.L.A.T.M., Nicolaï, B.M., 2020. Modelling respiration rate of dragon fruit as a function of gas composition and temperature. Scientia Horticulturae 263, 109138.

Mass loss in onion

Islam, M.N., Körner, O., Pedersen, J.S., Sørensen, J.N., Edelenbos, M. 2019. Analyzing quality and modelling mass loss of onions during drying and storage. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 164, 104865.

Glycolytic enzyme activities

Boeckx, J., Hertog, M., Geeraerd, A., Nicolaï, B., 2019. Regulation of the fermentative metabolism in apple fruit exposed to low-oxygen stress reveals a high flexibility. Postharvest Biology and Technology 149, pp. 118-128.

Drying and quality kinetics of rosehip leather

Demarchi, S.M., Torrez Irigoyen, R.M., Giner, S.A., 2018. Vacuum drying of rosehip leathers: Modelling of coupled moisture content and temperature curves as a function of time with simultaneous time-varying ascorbic acid retention. J. Food Eng. 233, 9–16. ​

The effect of cooling on the pH of meat

Kuffi, K.D., Lescouhier, S., Nicolaï, B.M., De Smet, S., Geeraerd, A., Verboven, P., 2018. Modelling postmortem evolution of pH in beef M. biceps femoris under two different cooling regimes. J. Food Sci. Technol. 55, 233–243. ​

Ethylene regulated ripening of avocado

Gwanpua, S.G., Qian, Z., East, A.R., 2018. Modelling ethylene regulated changes in “Hass” avocado quality. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 136, 12–22. ​

Analysing enzyme activity assays

Boeckx, J., Hertog, M., Geeraerd, A., Nicolai, B., 2017. Kinetic modelling: an integrated approach to analyze enzyme activity assays. Plant Methods 13, 69-80 ​

Modelling cell wall degradation

Gwanpua, S.G., Verlinden, B.E., Hertog, M.L.A.T.., Nicolaı̈, B.M., Hendrickx, M.E., Geeraerd, A.H., 2017. A transcriptomics-based kinetic model for enzyme-induced pectin degradation in apple (Malus × domestica) fruit. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 130, 64-74 ​

Tomato harvest predictions

Hertog, M.L.A.T.M., Tran, D.T., Tran, T.L.H., Quyen, N.T., Van de Poel, B., Mata, C.I., Nicolaï, B.M., 2017. Population Modeling Approach to Optimize Crop Harvest Strategy. The Case of Field Tomato. Front. Plant Sci. 8, 1–11 ​

Drying-roasting kinetics of soaked quinoa

Ricardo M. Torrez Irigoyen, Sergio A. Giner, 2017. Modeling thin layer drying-roasting kinetics of soaked quinoa. Coupled mass and energy transfer, Biosystems Engineering, 157, 99-108 ​

1-MCP inhibition of apple fruit ripening

Gwanpua, S. G., Verlinden, B. E., Hertog, M. L., Nicolai, B. M. and Geeraerd, A. H., 2017. A mechanistic modelling approach to understand 1-MCP inhibition of ethylene action and quality changes during ripening of apples. J. Sci. Food Agric. ​

Analysing oxygen depletion curves

Baiye Mfortaw Mbong Victor, Jerry Ampofo-Asiama, Maarten Hertog, Annemie H. Geeraerd, Bart M. Nicolai, 2017. Metabolic profiling reveals a coordinated response of isolated lamb's (Valerianella locusta, L.) lettuce cells to sugar starvation and low oxygen stress, Postharvest Biology and Technology, 126, 23-33 ​

Kiwifruit softening at different temperatures and ethylene levels

Hertog, M.L.A.T.M., Jeffery, P.B., Gwanpua, S.-G., Lallu, N., East, A., 2016. A mechanistic model to describe the effects of time, temperature and exogenous ethylene levels on softening of kiwifruit. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 121, 143–150. ​

Lycopene synthesis and chlorophyll breakdown in tomato fruit

Sánchez-González, M.J., Schouten, R.E., Tijskens, L.M.M. Sánchez-Guerrero, M.C., Medrano, E., del Rio-Celestino, M., Lorenzo, P., 2016. Salinity and ripening on/off the plant effects on lycopene synthesis and chlorophyll breakdown in hybrid Raf tomato. Scientia Horticulturae 211, 203–212. ​

Sugar and acid interconversion in tomato fruit

Schouten, R.E., Woltering, E.J., Tijskens, L.M.M., 2016. Sugar and acid interconversion in tomato fruits based on biopsy sampling of locule gel and pericarp tissue. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 111, 83–92. ​

Osmotic swelling/shrinking of cells

Kumar, P.T., Toffalini, F., Witters, D., Vermeir, S., Rolland, F., Hertog, M.L.A.T.M., Nicolaï, B.M., Puers, R., Geeraerd, A., Lammertyn, J., 2014. Digital microfluidic chip technology for water permeability measurements on single isolated plant protoplasts. Sensors Actuators B Chem. 199, 479–487.  ​

Lycopene synthesis and chlorophyll breakdown in tomato fruit

Schouten, R.E., Farneti, B., Tijskens, L.M.M., Alarcón, a. A., Woltering, E.J., 2014. Quantifying lycopene synthesis and chlorophyll breakdown in tomato fruit using remittance VIS spectroscopy. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 96, 53–63.  ​

Phenolic content during storage of fruit

Amodio, M.L., Derossi, A., Colelli, G., 2014. Modeling phenolic content during storage of cut fruit and vegetables: A consecutive reaction mechanism. J. Food Eng. 140, 1–8. ​

A transcriptomics-based model of ethylene biosynthesis

Bram Van de Poel, Inge Bulens, Maarten L. A. T. M. Hertog, Bart M. Nicolai and Annemie H. Geeraerd, 2014. A transcriptomics-based kinetic model for ethylene biosynthesis in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit: development, validation and exploration of novel regulatory mechanisms. New Phytologist, 202: 952–963. ​

Colour change of Apple

S.G. Gwanpua, V. Vicent, B.E. Verlinden, M.L.A.T.M. Hertog, B.M. Nicolai, A.H. Geeraerd, 2014. Managing biological variation in skin background colour along the postharvest chain of ‘Jonagold’ apples. Postharvest Biol. Technol., 93: 61-71. ​

Microbial growth modelling

Jo Philips, Pieter Jan Haest, Dirk Springael, and Erik Smolders, 2013. Inhibition of Geobacter Dechlorinators at Elevated Trichloroethene Concentrations Is Explained by a Reduced Activity Rather than by an Enhanced Cell Decay. Environ. Sci. Technol., 47 (3), pp 1510–1517 ​

Apple fruit softening management

S.G. Gwanpua, B.E. Verlinden, M.L.A.T.M. Hertog, J. Van Impe, B.M. Nicolaï, A.H. Geeraerd, 2013. Towards flexible management of postharvest variation in fruit firmness of three apple cultivars. Postharvest Biol. Technol., 85: 18-29. ​

Ethylene biosynthesis

I. Bulens, B. Van de Poel, A.H. Geeraerd, B.M. Nicolaï , M.L.A.T.M. Hertog, 2012. Ethylene metabolism in 'jonagold' apple during ca storage and shelf life - a modeling approach. Acta Hort. (ISHS) 945:331-336 ​

Tomato fruit ripening

B. Van de Poel, I. Bulens, M.L.A.T.M. Hertog, L. Van Gastel, M.P. De Proft, B.M. Nicolaia, A.H. Geeraerd, 2012. Model-based classification of tomato fruit development and ripening related to physiological maturity. Postharvest Biol. Technol., 67: 59-67. ​

Apple fruit softening during storage

S.G. Gwanpua, B.E. Verlinden, M.L.A.T.M. Hertog, I. Bulens, B. Van de Poel, J. Van Impe, B.M. Nicolaï, A.H. Geeraerd, 2012. Kinetic modeling of firmness breakdown in ‘Braeburn’ apples stored under different controlled atmosphere conditions. Postharvest Biol. Technol., 67: 68-74. ​

Modelling fruit libraries

A.R. East, 2011. Accelerated libraries to inform batch sale scheduling and reduce postharvest losses of seasonal fresh produce. Biosystems Engineering 109(1):1-9 ​

Food sterilisation

van Zuijlen, A., Periago, P.M., Amezquita, A., Palop, A., Brul, S., Fernandez, P.S., 2010. Characterization of Bacillus sporothermodurans IC4 spores; putative indicator microorganism for optimisation of thermal processes in food sterilisation. Food Research International,43 (7) 2010, 1895-1901. ​

Mango fruit quality throughout the supply chain

A.R. East, F.J. Trujillo, E.L. Winley, 2010. Modelling the incidence of decay development in 'b74' mangoes as a function of supply chain temperature. Acta Hort. (ISHS) 877:1815-1820 ​

Apple aroma production during storage

Hertog, M.L.A.T.M., Saevels, S., Lammertyn, J., Nicolaï, B.M., 2010. Modelling the aroma regeneration after long term storage of apple at modified atmospheres. Acta Hort. 857, 162-168. ​

Avocado fruit softening and biological variation

Salvador Ochoa-Ascencio, Maarten L.A.T.M. Hertog, Bart M. Nicolaï, 2009. Modelling the transient effect of 1-MCP on ‘Hass’ avocado softening: A Mexican comparative study. Postharvest Biol. Technol., 51 (1) 62-72. ​

l-ascorbic acid quantification

Vermeir, S., Hertog, M., Schenk, A., Beullens, K., Nicolaï, B.M., Lammertyn, J., 2008. Evaluation and optimization of high-throughput enzymatic assays for fast L-ascorbic acid quantification in fruit and vegetables, Analytica Chimica Acta, 618, 94–101. ​

Enzymatic softening of apple

Róth, E., Hertog, M.L.A.T.M., Kovács, E., Nicolaï, B., 2007. Orchard management and the softening of apples in relation to enzyme activity, Int. J. Food Sci. Technol., 43, 620–628. ​

PPO based Browning of mushrooms

Bobelyn, E., Hertog, M.L.A.T.M., Nicolaï, B.M., 2006. Applicability of an enzymatic Time Temperature Integrator as a quality indicator for mushrooms in the distribution chain. Postharvest Biol. Technol., 42 (1) 104-114. ​

Chemical working principle of time temperature integrators

Bobelyn, E., Hertog, M.L.A.T.M., Nicolaï, B.M., 2006. Applicability of an enzymatic Time Temperature Integrator as a quality indicator for mushrooms in the distribution chain. Postharvest Biol. Technol., 42 (1) 104-114. ​

PPO kinetics at super atmospheric oxygen conditions

Gómez, P.A., Geysen, S., Verlinden, B.E., Artés, F.  and Nicolaï, B.M. 2006. Modelling the effect of superatmospheric oxygen concentrations on in vitro mushroom PPO activity. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 86, 2387-2394. ​

Colour change of tomato

Hertog, M.L.A.T.M., Lammertyn, J., Desmet, M., Scheerlinck, N. and Nicolaï, B. M., 2004. The impact of biological variation on postharvest behaviour of tomato fruit. Postharvest Biol. Technol., 34 (3), 271-284. ​

Postharvest change in ascorbic acid in pears

Franck, C., 2004. Metabolic characterisation of browning disorders in 'Conference' pears, Ph.D. thesis № 634, K.U. Leuven, Belgium.