Contact Dr M. Carmen Alamar
- Tel: +44 (0) 1234 750111
- Email: m.d.alamargavidia@cranfield.ac.uk
- ORCID
Areas of expertise
- Agrifood Systems
- Food Quality
- Food Safety
Background
Dr Alamar obtained her PhD in Food Technology in 2007 by the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV), conducting her research work in two centres of excellence in the postharvest field: the Agricultural Engineering Centre at the Valencian Institute for Agricultural Research (IVIA), Spain, and KU-Leuven University, Belgium. During this period she gained an in-depth understanding of non-destructive postharvest techniques (viz. near infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance) for the estimation of internal food quality-related attributes, and of the mechanical behaviour of fresh fruit and vegetables. Prior to starting her career as a postdoc at Cranfield University, Dr Alamar worked as a Food Quality Inspector for Ibertrade, Spain, in close collaboration with USDA counterparts (2007). In 2009, she was awarded a Postgraduate fellowship (Rank 1st) by the Research and Food Technology Department- Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Department (Spain), being her main responsibility the management and organisation of scientific seminars where both academia and industrialists were able to interact in order to address and/or explore existing issues in the Agrifood sector. As academic visitor in the Plant Science Laboratory at Cranfield University (2010-2012), she extended her experience in postharvest biology aiming at understanding the effect of the supply chain on the physiology and biochemistry of ready-to-eat stone fruit in relation to fruit quality parameters. Dr Alamar was then appointed as Research Fellow in Postharvest Bioscience in 2012, and is now Lecturer in Postharvest Biology at Cranfield University.
Current activities
Dr Alamar's overall research expertise has focused on postharvest biology and technology of fresh produce. Her two core areas of research include: i) the use and implementation of postharvest technologies and ii) plant physiology and biochemistry of postharvest commodities. Her goal is to provide a holistic approach to Postharvest Biology where agri-engineering and biology (transcriptomics, biochemistry and physiology) are better integrated in order to tackle postharvest challenges throughout the supply chain. Dr Alamar has been actively involved in a number of high profile research projects/contracts for both BBSRC and DEFRA, and large corporates such as Unilever, Monsanto, Johnson Matthey and Zespri. She is Course Director for Food Systems and Management MSc and supervises/co-supervises both MSc and PhD students.
Her key research areas are:
Implementation of postharvest techniques such as control modified atmosphere, ethylene supplementation and 1-MCP; to prolong storage life and reduce waste of fruit and vegetables.
Investigation of the effects of postharvest storage techniques on the physiology and biochemistry, particularly in terms of secondary metabolites (viz. phenolic compounds and plant growth regulators). Targeted and non-targeted metabolomics.
Chemometrics and multivariate statistical analysis.
Identification of physiological and biochemical markers, and natural variants in key dormancy-related genes that can be used to select for dormancy-related traits.
Mechanistic understanding (transcriptomis) of plant senescence and dormancy break.
Clients
BBSRC; DEFRA; Unilever; Albert Bartlett; Johnson Matthey; Amcor; PepsiCo; MMUK Ltd.; KWS UK Ltd.; Edward Vinson Ltd., Zespri
Publications
Articles In Journals
- O’Brien C, Falagán N, Kourmpetli S, Landahl S, Terry LA, .... (2024). Non-destructive methods for mango ripening prediction: Visible and near-infrared spectroscopy (visNIRS) and laser Doppler vibrometry (LDV). Postharvest Biology and Technology, 212
- Navarro-Calderón Á, Falagán N, Terry LA & Alamar MC. (2023). Biomarkers of postharvest resilience: unveiling the role of abscisic acid in table grapes during cold storage. Frontiers in Plant Science, 14
- Sanzo-Miró M, Simms DM, Rezwan FI, Terry LA & Alamar MC. (2023). An Integrated Approach to Control and Manage Potato Black Dot Disease: A Review. American Journal of Potato Research, 100(5)
- Grandsir C, Falagán N & Alamar MC. (2023). Application of novel technologies to reach net‐zero greenhouse gas emissions in the fresh pasteurised milk supply chain: A review. International Journal of Dairy Technology, 76(1)
- Sakrabani R, Garnett K, Knox JW, Rickson J, Pawlett M, .... (2023). Towards net zero in agriculture: Future challenges and opportunities for arable, livestock and protected cropping systems in the UK. Outlook on Agriculture, 52(2)
- Fernández-Cancelo P, Echeverria G, Teixidó N, Alamar MC & Giné-Bordonaba J. (2023). Cultivar differences in the hormonal crosstalk regulating apple fruit development and ripening: Relationship with flavour components and postharvest susceptibility to Penicillium expansum. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 205
- Tezyapar Kara I, Marsay N, Huntington V, Coulon F, Alamar MC, .... (2022). ASSESSING METAL RECOVERY OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH BIOLEACHING FROM PAST METALLURGICAL SITES AND WASTE DEPOSITS: UK CASE STUDY. Detritus, 21(21)
- Coulon F, Campo P, Walton C, Alamar MC, Cowley T, .... (2022). Qualitative and Quantitative comparison of field-based analytical technologies for petroleum hydrocarbons determination in soils. CONCAWE Reports, 22(12)
- García-Pastor ME, Falagán N, Giné-Bordonaba J, Wójcik DA, Terry LA, .... (2021). Cultivar and tissue-specific changes of abscisic acid, its catabolites and individual sugars during postharvest handling of flat peaches (Prunus persica cv. platycarpa). Postharvest Biology and Technology, 181(November)
- Collings ER, Alamar MC, Márquez MB, Kourmpetli S, Kevei Z, .... (2021). Improving the Tea Withering Process Using Ethylene or UV-C. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 69(45)
- García-Pastor ME, Giménez MJ, Serna-Escolano V, Guillén F, Valero D, .... (2021). Oxalic Acid Preharvest Treatment Improves Colour and Quality of Seedless Table Grape ‘Magenta’ Upregulating on-Vine Abscisic Acid Metabolism, Relative VvNCED1 Gene Expression, and the Antioxidant System in Berries. Frontiers in Plant Science, 12
- Tosetti R, Waters A, Chope GA, Cools K, Alamar MC, .... (2021). New insights into the effects of ethylene on ABA catabolism, sweetening and dormancy in stored potato tubers. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 173
- Lourenço C, Campo P, Walton C, Alamar MC & Coulon F. (2021). Overview of Field-Based Analytical Techniques, Devices and Kits to Determine Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Soil. CONCAWE Reports, 21(3)
- Alamar MC, Anastasiadi M, Lopez-Cobollo R, Bennett MH, Thompson AJ, .... (2020). Transcriptome and phytohormone changes associated with ethylene-induced onion bulb dormancy. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 168
- Serradilla MJ, Falagán N, Bohmer B, Terry LA & Alamar MC. (2019). The role of ethylene and 1-MCP in early-season sweet cherry ‘Burlat’ storage life. Scientia Horticulturae, 258
- Douglas RK, Nawar S, Alamar MC, Coulon F & Mouazen AM. (2019). The application of a handheld mid-infrared spectrometry for rapid measurement of oil contamination in agricultural sites. Science of The Total Environment, 665
- Collings ER, Carmen Alamar M, Redfern S, Cools K & Terry LA. (2019). Spatial changes in leaf biochemical profile of two tea cultivars following cold storage under two different vapour pressure deficit (VPD) conditions. Food Chemistry, 277
- Magwaza LS, Carmen Alamar M, Tesfay SZ, Mditshwa A, Opara UL, .... (2019). Investigating the involvement of ABA, ABA catabolites and cytokinins in the susceptibility of ‘Nules Clementine’ mandarin to rind breakdown disorder. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 99(8)
- Ohanenye IC, Alamar MC, Thompson AJ & Terry LA. (2019). Fructans redistribution prior to sprouting in stored onion bulbs is a potential marker for dormancy break. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 149
- Morris WL, Alamar MC, Lopez-Cobollo RM, Castillo Cañete J, Bennett M, .... (2019). A member of the TERMINAL FLOWER 1/CENTRORADIALIS gene family controls sprout growth in potato tubers. Journal of Experimental Botany, 70(3)
- Douglas RK, Nawar S, Cipullo S, Alamar MC, Coulon F, .... (2018). Evaluation of vis-NIR reflectance spectroscopy sensitivity to weathering for enhanced assessment of oil contaminated soils. Science of The Total Environment, 626
- Douglas RK, Nawar S, Alamar MC, Mouazen AM & Coulon F. (2018). Rapid prediction of total petroleum hydrocarbons concentration in contaminated soil using vis-NIR spectroscopy and regression techniques. Science of The Total Environment, 616-617
- Collings ER, Alamar Gavidia MC, Cools K, Redfern S & Terry LA. (2018). Effect of UV-C on the physiology and biochemical profile of fresh Piper nigrum berries. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 136
- Alamar MDC, Falagán N, Aktas E & Terry LA. (2018). Minimising food waste: a call for multidisciplinary research. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 98(1)
- Alamar MC, Collings E, Cools K & Terry LA. (2017). Impact of controlled atmosphere scheduling on strawberry and imported avocado fruit. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 134
- Douglas RK, Nawar S, Alamar MC, Coulon F & Mouazen AM. (2017). Almost 25 years of chromatographic and spectroscopic analytical method development for petroleum hydrocarbons analysis in soil and sediment: state-of-the-art, progress and trends. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 47(16)
- Alamar MC, Tosetti R, Landahl S, Bermejo A & Terry LA. (2017). Assuring Potato Tuber Quality during Storage: A Future Perspective. Frontiers in Plant Science, 8
- Nkwonta CG, Alamar MC, Landahl S & Terry LA. (2016). Effects of postharvest storage and processing techniques on the main fatty acids in the profile of oil extracted from African Walnut (Tetracarpidium conophorum Mull. Arg.). Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 45
- Nkwonta CG, Medina A, del Carmen Alamar M & Terry LA. (2015). Impact of postharvest processing on the fungal population contaminating African walnut shells (Tetracarpidium conophorum Mull. Arg) at different maturity stages and potential mycotoxigenic implications. International Journal of Food Microbiology, 194
- Cools K, del Carmen Alamar M & Terry LA. (2014). Controlling sprouting in potato tubers using ultraviolet-C irradiance. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 98
- González-Mas MC, Rambla JL, Alamar MC, Gutiérrez A & Granell A. (2011). Comparative Analysis of the Volatile Fraction of Fruit Juice from Different Citrus Species. PLoS ONE, 6(7)
- Alamar MC, Vanstreels E, Oey ML, Moltó E & Nicolaï BM. (2008). Micromechanical behaviour of apple tissue in tensile and compression tests: Storage conditions and cultivar effect. Journal of Food Engineering, 86(3)
- Martínez-Calvo J, Gisbert AD, Alamar MC, Hernandorena R, Romero C, .... (2008). Study of a germplasm collection of loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) by multivariate analysis. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 55(5)
- Alamar MC, Bobelyn E, Lammertyn J, Nicolaï BM & Moltó E. (2007). Calibration transfer between NIR diode array and FT-NIR spectrophotometers for measuring the soluble solids contents of apple. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 45(1)
- Oey ML, Vanstreels E, Alamar MC, De Baerdemaeker J, Schlüter O, .... (2006). Influence of turgor on micromechanical properties of apple tissue.. Communications in agricultural and applied biological sciences, 71(4)
- Vanstreels E, Alamar MC, Verlinden BE, Enninghorst A, Loodts JKA, .... (2005). Micromechanical behaviour of onion epidermal tissue. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 37(2)
- Navarro-Calderón Á, Magwaza LS, Terry LA & Alamar MC. Unveiling biomarkers for postharvest resilience: the role of canopy position on quality and abscisic acid dynamics of ‘Nadorcott’ clementine mandarins. Frontiers in Horticulture, 3
Conference Papers
- Collings E, Landahl S, Jodkowska M, Nayakoti S, Chinn J, .... (2023). Understanding the mechanisms responsible for postharvest tip breakdown in asparagus: a biochemical approach
- Nayakoti S, Collings E, Landahl S, Chinn J, Terry LA, .... (2023). Understanding asparagus tip breakdown postharvest at a molecular and cellular level
- Nkwonta CG, Alamar MC, Cellek S & Terry LA. (2021). Overview of potential individual phenolic compounds of African walnut extracts and cytotoxicity assessment in lung cancer cell line (A549)
- Douglas RK, Nawar S, Alamar MC, Coulon F & Mouazen AM. (2019). Rapid detection of alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in oil‐contaminated soil with visible near‐infrared spectroscopy
- Collings ER, Alamar MC, Cools K, Ordaz-Ortiz JJ & Terry LA. (2018). Discrete ex situ and continuous in situ real-time respiration rate measurements of fresh produce using a novel automated dynamic approach
- Lee HJ, Lee SG, Kim SK, Terry LA & Alamar MDC. (2018). Profiling the Phytohormones and Sugars Contents of Orders and Tissues of Kimchi Cabbage Leaves As Affected by Deficit Irrigation
- Cools K, Alamar MC, Terry LA & Chope GA. (2016). Spatial phytohormone profile of stored bulbs
- Cools K, Alamar MC, Terry LA & Chope GA. (2016). Spatial phytohormone profile of stored bulbs
- Alamar Gavidia MC & Terry LA. (2013). TEMPORAL CHANGES IN INDIVIDUAL PHENOLICS AND SUGARS IN IMPORTED NECTARINES SUBJECTED TO SIMULATED "REAL WORLD" SUPPLY CHAIN CONDITIONS
- Alamar MC, Suay R & Moltó E. (2008). MICROMECHANICAL BEHAVIOUR OF TURFGRASS FOR SPORTS FIELDS
- Vanstreels E, Verlinden B, Alamar Gavidia MC, Nicolaï B, Enninghorst A, .... (2005). MICROMECHANICAL BEHAVIOUR OF ONION EPIDERMAL TISSUE
- Nicolaï B, Lammerteyn J, Veraverbeke EA, Hertog MLATM, Róth E, .... (2005). NON-DESTRUCTIVE TECHNIQUES FOR MEASURING QUALITY OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES